Mario Alvarez Martinez (born July 6, 1957 in Salinas, California) was an Olympic weightlifter for the United States….whose lifting career in Olympic weightlifting lasted for over 23 years. Throughout his career….he earned himself 10 national championships….3 Olympics including a silver medal (at the 1984 Los Angeles Games) and a 4th-place finish….3 Pan Am medals….on top of being the first American to snatch over 400 lb….and clean & jerk over 500 lb in competition. Martinez had very rough training techniques….and was well known for his bent-arm pulling style. When he would rack his cleans….only his finger tips would be on the bar….and he had to re-grip for the jerk….as you see him do in this video on his silver medal winning clean and jerk lift….so when his hands were to slip off….he would have to grab the bar again.
Martinez had career weightlifting achievements as follows….Silver Medalist in Olympic Games (1984)….Olympic Games team member (1984, 1988, and 1992)….Silver Medalist in Senior World Championships (1994)….Pan Am Games Champion (1987)….Silver Medalist in Pan Am Games (1991)….Bronze Medalist in Pan Am Games (1995)….Senior National Champion (1982-1989, 1992, and 1994)….with a Senior American record in snatch, clean and jerk, and total (1972-1992).
Dinko “Dean” Lukin (born 26 May 1960) is a retired weightlifter from Australia….who won the gold medal in the Super Heavyweight category at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He carried the Australian flag during the closing ceremony of the 1984 games….and remains Australia’s only Olympic gold medalist for weightlifting. He also saw success in the Commonwealth Games….winning gold medals in the super heavyweight division of the 1982 Brisbane Games and the 1986 Edinburgh Games.
In a press conference following his 1984 Olympic gold medal, Lukin reportedly told assembled journalists that instead of focusing upon his victory, they should assemble for the disabled games and show those competitors as much time and respect as they had shown him. This was because their achievements were “far greater than mine.” Lukin was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.
