Tehran, Feb 18, IRNA -- The strongest man of the world in 2001 and 2002, Hossein Rezazadeh, is to get married in Mecca on Thursday marking Ghadir feast.

President of Iran's Weightlifting Federation (IWF), Ali Moradi, said Rezazadeh and his future wife are making a pilgrimage to the holiest site of the Muslims, Kaaba, in Saudi Arabia.

According to the IWF chief, the weightlifter will back home two or three days after his wedding ceremony.

The world's +105 kg champion and record holder has received the approval of Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Reyshahri, the Leader's representative and head of Iranian pilgrims, to hold his marital ceremony in Mecca.

Expressing his pleasure over the presence of weightlifter Rezazadeh in Mecca, Hojjatoleslam Reyshahri said the Almighty God has bestowed Rezazadeh a powerful build and Hajj will help him attain higher spirit and bright future.

The Leader's representative told Rezazadeh: "Your prayer before and after lifting the weights is an indication of your piety and high spirit that will be developed during Hajj rituals."

"In addition to your own success in the international sports competitions, you have turned into a model for other sportsmen," said Reyshahri, adding that "So you have to strengthen your spiritual power during your pilgrimage to Mecca and give your followers sportsmanship and moral lessons."

The Iranian official also extended his appreciation to Moradi for playing a great role in training sportsmen.

Rezazadeh, who is a guest of the Leader's office in Mecca presented a report on his championship in 2002 World Weightlifting Championships in Warsaw, Poland.

The heavyweight lifter said he has gone to Mecca to thank the Most High for helping him score success.

Rezazadeh burst spectacularly onto the international scene at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with a superhuman lift to defeat two legends of the sport on the way to gold and the title of the `world's strongest man'.

The 24-year-old Rezazadeh took Olympic gold with a world record total of 472.5kg (212.5kg in the snatch and 260kg in the clean and jerk).

His 260kg lift was one of the heaviest in weightlifting history and proved too much for 1992 gold medalist Weller and 1996 winner Chemerkin who settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Rezazadeh won three gold medals in +105 kg category of the 72nd World Weightlifting Championships in Warsaw, Poland as he totally lifted 472.5 kg. He set a new world record in clean and jerk by 0.5 kg as he lifted 263 kilograms.

On, Jan 9, President Mohammad Khatami granted a `badge of courage' to the Ardebili weightlifter.

During a ceremony held in the presence of several ministers and other state officials at Hafezieh Cultural Complex, Khatami presented medals to 16 athletes of the land, including world-class weightlifter Hossein Rezazadeh, freestyle wrestler Alireza Dabir, and taekwondo champion Hadi Saei as a sign of acknowledging their efforts in sportsmanship.

... Payvand News - 2/18/03 ... --