Monday, August 10, 2015

A few words with Tommy Kono

Tommy Kono visits worldwide headquarters of Pierini Fitnesss

Last Friday, I met with my my friend Olympic weightlifting legend Tommy Kono at the worldwide headquarters of Pierini Fitness.  

Mr. Kono was in Sacramento over the weekend to attend the Tommy Kono X Weightlifting Competition named in his honor.

For those of you who are west coast weightlifting history buffs, here's a photo of Tommy Kono circa mid-1950's.  

Tommy Kono is second from the left, followed by Alyce Yarick, Ed Yarick and my father (RIP). The person to Mr. Kono's right is Dan Uhalde who, at the time, was the second best lifter in the 198-lb. weight class.  Back then, lbs. were used to express weight. Mr. Kono's best guess is that this photo was taken in 1954 or 1955.  

Click above photo for larger view

Here's another photo of Ed Yarick Gym's weightlifting team that went to San Quentin Prison sometime after the 1952 Olympics to compete against the prisoners.  This friendly competition with the prisoners took place in either 1954 or 1955.

Mr. Kono is standing far right, my Dad is standing far left (RIP) and my uncle (RIP) is kneeling in the front row second from right.  Ed Yarick is the big man standing in the center.  

Click above photo for larger view
I had an opportunity to ask Mr. Kono if he had any new words of wisdom for all the middle-aged men of the world in their gracefully aging journey. 

View the video below to learn what he shared.





Wise counsel doesn't have to be complex or lengthy.  Sometimes less will do such as a few words with Tommy Kono.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

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