Topic: News: Turkey's Halil Mutlu eyes fourth gold medal

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Turkey's Halil Mutlu eyes fourth gold medal
By Selcuk Gokoluk

ANKARA, May 14 (Reuters) - Turkey's triple Olympic champion Halil Mutlu wants to become the first weightlifter to win four Olympic gold medals when he competes in Beijing after a two-year doping ban, he told Reuters on Wednesday.

Mutlu, who was banned in late 2005 for taking steroids, said he was aiming for a gold medal at his last Olympics. "I want to be the first (weightlifter) who has ever won four consecutive gold Olympic medals," Mutlu said, who will compete in the 56 kg group.

"I am totally concentrated on Beijing... silver medal means nothing to me. I am sure I will win a medal but its colour is very important," he said in an interview as he sipped tea outside a sports hall before training.

Last month's European weightlifting championships in Lignano, Italy, showed him that he had lost some of his strength during his two-year ban, Mutlu said.

Mutlu won a silver medal in Italy, finishing the competition with a combined lift of 269 kg.

"The result did not satisfy me. I had passed through a bit of a bad preparation period. I suffered injuries and stress and tensions were added to this," he said.

Mutlu, known as Little Dynamo, was born in Bulgaria and began his career before moving to Turkey when he was 16.

He said he did not want to speak further on his doping ban.

"I said I am the only person guilty and I served my penalty," he said, adding that he continued to work out during his suspension.

The Chinese lifters will be his greatest challenge in Beijing, he said. "The Chinese have been trying to beat me for years without success. They will try to be successful this time. I need to be more careful not to let them do this," said Mutlu, who will be 35 by the time he travels to Beijing.

[cathal byrd]

Should be a very intersting 56kg class in Beijing. I was at the Europeans in Italy and Mutlu certainly didn't seem like himself, his lifts were way down and he was close to bombing in snatch with 120kg. Another Turkish lifter, Sagir, also was out of sorts. Doping control improving....?

[Matt Erdman]

I wonder if that was before or after he pulled his hamstring...

[Shaun Le Conte]

I am pretty sure that Mutlu will start with 125+ kg in the snatch in Beijing, whether he can do it or not just like Suleymanoglu did with 145 kg in Sydney. Though after Sydney Suleymanoglu said in an interview that he should have started lighter.

[Matt Foreman]

I don't think he'll be able to get it done.  He's a great lifter, but I think the Chinese are going to come into that first weight class with their guns blazing.  They want to dominate the Olympics, especially weightlifting, and that first gold medal will be huge.  If Mutlu does get it done, it'll be a historic feat in a lot of ways.

After the Greek situation, I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of totals down.   

I do respect his comment about his doping violation, "I am the only person guilty."  That's a far cry from every other drug user (and coach) out there who tries to lie and weasel their way out of the consequences of their actions.  At least he's owning up to it.   

[Rob Macklem]

Absolutely Matt. He's admitted his guilt (rare in the world of sport).not someone spiked my apple juice, I took the wrong vitamins, its my coaches fault, ect.

He placed 2nd at the Euros ,and was one of the few lifters who appeared to genuinely be having fun, he was laughing and smiling even when receiving his silver medal.

I would hazard a guess he'll maybe get 3rd at the Olympics, but who knows. The Chinese have to be favorites in the lighter classes BUT they have stiff competition from all over.At the OLympics favorites BOMB and the extra pressure seems to bring out the best in others.

I would guess the hamstring thing was related to BW/electrolyte loss, I've seen it lots; usually always in CJ.

[Shaun Le Conte]

Another possible spin on his statement that he is the only guilty person, is that he is protecting the reputations of his other teammates. They aren't guilty of anything, only he is.

[AlekoKouva]

I dont kno who to root for the chinese or Mutlu?