Background
Of Japanese descent, Kono was born in Sacramento, California, on June 27, 1930.
Of Japanese descent, Kono was born in Sacramento, California, on June 27, 1930.
Kono is the only Olympic weightlifter in history to have set world records in four different weight classes: lightweight (149 pounds or 675 kilograms), middleweight (165 lb or 75 kg), light-heavyweight (182 lb or 825 kg), and middle-heavyweight (198 lb or 90 kg). Kono"s family was relocated to Tule Lake internment camp during World World War World War II Tule lake camp was in a very isolated area in the desert in northern California. Sickly as a child, the desert air helped Kono"s asthma.
After 3½ years they were released and Kono finished high school at Sacramento High.
Kono was a gold medalist at both the 1952 Summer Olympics and 1956 Summer Olympics, and a silver medalist at the 1960 Summer Olympics. In 1976, Kono was head coach of the United States" Olympic weightlifting team in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Kono was also a successful Bodybuilder, winning the Iron Manitoba Mr. World title in 1954. In the 1970s Kono moved to Hawaii, where he has lived ever since.
On his home visits he holds workshops in weightlifting.
In 1993 Kono was elected to the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame. Kono is also an inductee to the Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen (AOBS) Hall of Fame.