Matthias Steiner

マティアス・シュタイナー　/　まてぃあす・しゅたいなー

American weightlifter

August 25, 1982 (age 43)　・　Vienna, Austria

weightlifter
singer

My Take

Matthias Steiner is one of those athletes whose story hits you harder than any world record. The guy grew up in Vienna, competed for Austria, then switched to Germany and won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 in the super-heavyweight class — and when he raised that barbell overhead, he held up a photo of his late wife Susann, who had died in a car accident the year before. I challenge you to watch that moment without getting chills. He went on to win German Sportspersonality of the Year and earned the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt, but the hardware almost feels secondary to who he is as a person. Add in the fact that he also pursued a singing career, and you've got one of the genuinely most interesting human beings ever to walk onto a competition platform.

Overview

Matthias Steiner (German pronunciation: [maˈtiːas ˈʃtaɪnɐ] ; born 25 August 1982) is an Austrian-German retired weightlifter who is an Olympic gold medalist. As a native Austrian, he competed for Austria internationally from 1998 to 2005, in European Championships, World Championships, and the 2004 Summer Olympics.

1. Profile

Name (English): Matthias Steiner
Name (Japanese): マティアス・シュタイナー
Reading: まてぃあす・しゅたいなー
Born: August 25, 1982 (age 43)
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac: Virgo / Dog
Origin: Vienna, Austria
Blood type: Private
Height: 183 cm
Agency: Private
Occupation: weightlifter / singer

2. Background

Elementary school: Private
Junior high: Private
High school: Private
University: Private

Awards & achievements

2008 German Sportspersonality of the Year
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt
Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria

3. Relationships

Spouse: Private
Children: Private
Parents: Private
Siblings: Private

4. Personality

Motto

Private