OLYMPICS / Barcelona 1992: Suleymanoglu's uplifting feats: Ken Jones watches a pocket Hercules heave his way to another title and another property

BACKSTAGE at the Pavello de L'Espanya, eyes closed, arms limp, Naim Suleymanoglu again concentrated on the effort of strength and will that has established him as one of the most extraordinary athletes of the age.

In the 60-kilogram class Suleymanoglu became an international figure at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul when lifting three times his body weight, gaining the gold medal for Turkey and then going on to improve his own world record twice.

Earlier this year Suleymanoglu, a national hero who is rewarded with an apartment by the Turkish government every time he wins a major title - 15 in all - was defeated by Nikolai Peshalov, of Bulgaria, in the European Championships.

As Suleymanoglu was suspected to have lost his zest for training and competition, preferring to hang out with friends at a journalists' club in Ankara, gambling and smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day, Peshalov was considered to be a real threat in the disciplines of snatch and jerk.

It was all the motivation that Suleymanoglu needed. None of the other eight finalists, including Peshalov, got near the target of 142.50kg that announced his entry.

Suleymanoglu arrived on stage to cheers from supporters accustomed to the mannerisms that precede his remarkable feats. Fanning short, thick fingers along the bar, grasping it first with his thumbs before taking a full grip, he takes in a great gulp of air and explodes into a mighty effort. Up went the bar, and a smile danced across a boyish face.

Not enough for this pocket Hercules. Immediately it was announced that he would attempt a world record, drawing gasps from experts in the audience who considered it to be an arrogant gamble that might cost him the gold.

In fact Suleymanoglu twice thought better of it. The first time he only got the weight waist high before allowing it to fall thunderously on the stage. Not even bothering to lift the second time, he merely slapped at the bar, unable fully to motivate himself.

In truth there was never any serious threat to the Turk's Olympic title. Pelashov was not in the mood (the right frame of mind is critical in weightlifting events), and none of the others were remotely in Suleymanoglu's class.

Declaring an entry mark of 170kg in the clean and jerk, he made it easily, improved to 177.50 with a second attempt, and then raised his short arms in response to the applause.

Much has happened to Suleymanoglu since he defected from Bulgaria in 1987, his prized citizenship then purchased for dollars 1m by the Turkish government. Apart from property and numerous privileges, he drives a top of the range Mercedes and was flown home from Seoul in the Presidential jet.

Unmarried with a child, he asked for his retirement to be announced after Seoul, but it was lost in the translation. 'The Government would not allow it,' a Turkish official said.

Suleymanoglu will continue competing in the hope that an extension of his career will coincide with a successful bid to stage the Games of 2000 in Isntanbul. 'There is no longer any bitterness about Bulgaria in my heart,' he said. 'I am no longer determined to beat them. Things have changed.'

Nothing had changed by the time Suleymanoglu took centre stage in Barcelona. He was fully the astonishing little man remembered from Seoul. A cocky power-pack with the will to be better at what he does than any other man on earth. It is no exaggeration to suggest that he is the greatest weightlifter of all time.