1. Early Life and Background
Rafael Chimishkyan was born on March 23, 1929, in Tbilisi, which was then part of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. His journey in weightlifting began in 1946, marking the start of a remarkable career in the sport.
2. Weightlifting Career
Rafael Chimishkyan's weightlifting career was marked by consistent success and a progression through different weight categories, earning him numerous national and international accolades.
2.1. National and Early International Success
Chimishkyan made his debut at the USSR Weightlifting Championships in 1949, where he immediately secured a gold medal in the bantamweight category (123 lb (56 kg)). In 1950, he continued his success by winning a silver medal at the World Weightlifting Championships held in Paris. The same year, he earned a gold medal at the European Weightlifting Championships, also in Paris. Following these early achievements, he transitioned to the featherweight category (132 lb (60 kg)), in which he won a silver medal at the Soviet Championships that year.
2.2. Olympic and Major International Achievements
A highlight of Chimishkyan's career was his gold medal victory at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he competed in the 132 lb (60 kg) featherweight class. This achievement made him the second weightlifter from the Soviet Union to become an Olympic Champion. He was also noted as the last living Olympic champion, and even the last living medalist, in weightlifting from the 1952 Olympics.
Chimishkyan became a two-time World Champion, winning gold medals consecutively in 1954 in Vienna and in 1955 in Munich, both in the 132 lb (60 kg) category. His dominance extended to the European Championships, where he claimed six gold medals: in 1950 (Paris), 1952 (Helsinki), and consecutively from 1954 to 1957 (Vienna, Munich, Helsinki, Katowice). He was also a five-time USSR Champion, securing national titles in 1949 (Voronezh), 1951 (Kaunas), 1954 (Petrozavodsk), 1955 (Minsk), and 1960 (Leningrad). Additionally, he won silver medals at the Soviet Championships in 1950 (Kharkiv), 1952 (Ivanovo), 1953 (Tallinn), 1957 (Lviv), and 1958 (Stalino), and bronze medals in 1956 (Moscow) and 1962 (Tbilisi).
Throughout his competitive career, Chimishkyan set a total of 10 world records. These records included three in the snatch, two in the clean and jerk, and five in the total combined lift.
3. Post-Retirement Activities
After concluding his competitive weightlifting career, Rafael Chimishkyan remained deeply involved with the sport. He served as an international weightlifting judge, contributing his expertise to global competitions. He was also actively involved with the Georgian Weightlifting Federation, where he later held the honorary position of vice-president, continuing to influence and support the development of weightlifting in his home country.
4. Legacy and Recognition
Rafael Chimishkyan received numerous honors and recognitions throughout his life and posthumously. In 1952, he was awarded the prestigious title of Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR, a testament to his exceptional achievements as a Soviet athlete. He was also named an honorary citizen of his hometown, Tbilisi. His lasting impact on the sport in Georgia was further acknowledged when he was selected as "Georgia's best weightlifter of the 21st century."
5. Death
Rafael Arkadyevich Chimishkyan passed away on September 25, 2022, at the age of 93.