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Post by fastfor40 on Jun 27, 2021 10:44:11 GMT
Pretty cool...Ed, he trained you during your Olympic lifting endeavors, right?
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pierinifitness
Caneguru
His sky is always blue over yonder
Posts: 2,699
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Post by pierinifitness on Jun 27, 2021 11:54:22 GMT
Pretty cool...Ed, he trained you during your Olympic lifting endeavors, right? Thanks for sharing; took a look. Today was the day we was born. He'd be 91 if still alive. I wouldn't say he trained me but did give me some lessons when he came to Sacramento each year. He became a good friend. I liked him and he liked me. |
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brothersteve
Caneguru
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
Posts: 2,230
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Post by brothersteve on Jun 27, 2021 12:04:25 GMT
Pretty cool...Ed, he trained you during your Olympic lifting endeavors, right? Thanks for sharing; took a look. Today was the day we was born. He'd be 91 if still alive. I wouldn't say he trained me but did give me some lessons when he came to Sacramento each year. He became a good friend. I liked him and he liked me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  |
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pierinifitness
Caneguru
His sky is always blue over yonder
Posts: 2,699
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Post by pierinifitness on Jun 27, 2021 18:55:25 GMT
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AF1
New here
Posts: 9 
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Post by AF1 on Jun 27, 2021 20:55:20 GMT
The Google Doodle brought me here as it reminded me of Pierini and all the other Canegurus.
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pierinifitness
Caneguru
His sky is always blue over yonder
Posts: 2,699
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Post by pierinifitness on Jun 27, 2021 23:40:28 GMT
Thanks for thinking of us and giving us a clue that you're still breathing.
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pierinifitness
Caneguru
His sky is always blue over yonder
Posts: 2,699
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Post by pierinifitness on Jun 28, 2021 0:08:32 GMT
The story of how I reached out to Tommy Kono who ended becoming a good friend is something I'll save for a different day. What I want to do here is share something I did the first time I met him (2007) when he came to Sacramento to visit his older brother and attend a weightlifting competition named in his honor at his alma mater high school, Sacramento High. In talking to my Dad, I asked him how Mr. Kono was recognized after becoming the first Sacramento native to win an Olympic gold medal in Helsinki, circa 1952. My Dad said that was nothing special done to recognize him. The local newspapers had brief clips of his accomplishment but there was no parade or anything like that becoming for his accomplishment. Sacramento wasn't a terribly large city at that time so a parade for a "hometown hero" is something that another person might have gotten. But wounds from World War II were still fresh in the minds of many and Mr. Kono, while an American, was considered by many as Japanese, like the type America had gone to war to fight. Well, I decided I was going to see what I could to do get him the recognition that I believed he deserved, even if it was 55 years later. So I reached out to my City Council elected representative's office and explained the situation and asked if the Council Member could arrange to have the day of the weightlifting competition named as "Tommy Kono Day" and give him the recognition he never got. The City Council member's office and the City Councilman was receptive to my idea and actually took it to the Mayor. What came back is that they didn't want to do it because the city didn't have any criteria for recognizing someone with a "day". But, they would prepare a resolution recognizing his achievement and present it to him at the weightlifting competition. This is something I did keeping Mr. Kono in the dark, he didn't have a clue. Then, on the day of the competition, the City Councilman presented him with this resolution. Needless to say, Mr. Kono was totally surprised but it made for a nice time out at the weightlifting competition and it made me feel good that I in some small way helped him get the recognition from his hometown that he never had received 55 years ago. He was a humble man and didn't need this recognition but it seemed to me that he should get it and I'm glad I was able to make it happen. 
City of Sacramento Resolution honoring Tommy Kono signed my Mayor and City Council membersphoto album pictures
City Councilman Steve Cohn presents Tommy Kono with the City of Sacramento Resolution
It was an amazing week because that was the week that my Dad and him connected from over 50 years ago when Mr. Kono moved to Hawaii. That was something else I arranged and kept is a total secret from my Dad. Mr. Kono stayed as a guest in my home the entire week and we had a big BBQ party for him the day before he returned to Hawaii.
 Photo taken in my family room, circa 2007.Many have seen and read this but for those who haven't, you may enjoy the read. The title came from an expression that Royce (remember him) posted when I mentioned that I was going to publish an interview I did of him. When Tommy Kono speaks, wise men listen |
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Post by Deuce Gunner on Jun 29, 2021 19:37:21 GMT
This was part of the daily email I got today from Bill Hinbern's Super Strength Training site. I edited out the reprinted book plug.
Sunday, the world of Olympic Weightlifting and bodybuilding celebrated the birthday of one of its greatest competitors of all time...
The only Olympic weightlifter in history to have set world records in four different weight classes: lightweight at 149 pounds, middleweight at 165 pounds, light-heavyweight at 182 pounds, and middle-heavyweight at 198 pounds...
Tommy Kono.
Born in Sacramento, California, young Tommy suffered from asthma as a child.
His family was relocated to a Japanese internment camp during the dark years of World War II.
During this three year span, he was introduced to weightlifting.
He went on to become one of the few competitors that became a celebrated champion in both Olympic Weightlifting and bodybuilding.
Kono won gold medals in the Summer Olympics for Weightlifting in 1952 and 1956, and Silver in 1960.
He won the World Weightlifting Championships 6 consecutive times from 1953 to 1959, and set a total of 21 world records.
Kono was also a 3 time Pan American Games champion in 1955, 1959, and 1963.
After his competitive years, Kono went on to become head coach of the United States' Olympic weightlifting team during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Tommy Kono not only was a champion in Olympic Weightlifting, but a champion in the sport of bodybuilding, as well.
He won the Mr. World in 1954 and the Mr. Universe in 1955, 1957 and 1961.
In 1993 Kono was elected to the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame and an inductee to the Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, Tommy passed away on April 24th 2016.
Tommy Kono was a member of the York Barbell Club and trained using the same tried and true methods that can be found in the following courses.
Click on the following link and order yours, TODAY!
“The York System of Barbell and Dumbbell Training” by Bob Hoffman
All 6 courses including all 6 full-sized, fold-out, wall-chart, posters!
Happy 91st Birthday, Tommy Kono!!!
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