Kono, "Tommy" (Tami T.)
Weightlifting
b. June 27, 1930, Sacramento, CA
The only weightlifter ever to set world records in four different weight classes, Kono suffered from asthma as a child. During World War II, he and his parents were among the Japanese-Americans interned at Tule Lake, CA, where his health improved markedly because of the dry desert air.
Beginning in 1952, Kono was an important member of the U. S. national team because of his ability to move up or down in weight without losing strength, allowing him to compete in the classification where the team needed help.
He was the AAU national champion as a lightweight in 1952, as a middleweight in 1953 and from 1958 through 1960, and as a light heavyweight in 1954, 1955, 1956, and from 1961 through 1964. Kono won Olympic gold medals as a lightweight in 1952 and as a light heavyweight in 1956, and he was silver medalist as a middleweight in 1960.
The world middleweight champion in 1953 and from 1957 through 1959, Kono won world light heavyweight titles in 1954 and 1955. He also won the 1954 Mr. World contest and the 1955 and 1957 Mr. Universe championships.
Kono was known for his ability to "psych out" opponents. Fyodor Bogdanovasky of the Soviet Union once said of him, "When Kono looks at me from the wings, he works on me like a python on a rabbit."
After retiring from competition, Kono coached the Mexican and West German teams, and was the U. S. Olympic weightlifting coach in 1976.