Living in Avon Lake in the fifties and early sixties, Chuck Vinci was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in weightlifting, and the only one to do so to date. He won his first in 1956 and repeated the event in 1960. In addition to this unprecedented accomplishment, Vinci won several world titles, was runner-up in the Pan American Games, and was honored as the World’s Most Muscular Man.

Vinci weighed 119 pounds when he won his first medal and pressed 296 pounds, a world record. He also set two more records in subsequent lifts.

Bucky Kopf, long-time acquaintance of Vinci, will present Chuck to the community this evening.