1992 Olympic Weightlifting Team

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

 

1992 Olympic Team

 

The 1992 Olympics were held in Barcelona Spain from 7/25-8/8/1992. Weightlifting consisted of 10 Weight classes 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 67.5kg, 75kg, 82.5kg, 90kg, 100kg, 110kg and +110kg. The competition for all weight classes were held on 7/26-8/4/1992 at the Pavello de l’Espanya Industrial. The Team Coach was Roger Nielsen, Jim Schmitz was the Assistant Coach and the Team Manager was Denis Reno.

 

The Athletes

Mario Martinez

7/6/1957-1/14/2018

 

Mario started training in the early 1970’s. He competed from 1973-1996 and was coached by Jim Schmitz. Mario was a 3X Olympian, 2XPan American Champion, 10X Senior National Champion and held all the national records in the Superheavyweight class. Mario was the first American Superheavyweight to snatch over 400lbs and clean and jerk over 500lbs in the same contest.

 

1st 90kg class 1976 National Junior Olympic Weightlifting Championships

8th 90kg class 1976 Junior World Championships

9th 100kg class 1977 Junior World Championships

3rd 100kg class 1978 Junior Nationals

1st Superheavyweight 1982 Senior Nationals

1st Superheavyweight 1983 Pan American Games

1st Superheavyweight 1983 Senior Nationals

1st Superheavyweight 1984 Senior Nationals

2nd Superheavyweight 1984 Olympic Games

1st Superheavyweight 1985 Senior Nationals

1st Superheavyweight 1986 Senior Nationals

1st Superheavyweight 1987 Senior Nationals

1t Superheavyweight 1987 Pan American Games

1st Superheavyweight 1988 Senior Nationals

4th Superheavyweight 1988 Olympic Games

1st Superheavyweight 1989 Senior Nationals

1st Superheavyweight 1991 Senior Nationals

2nd Superheavyweight 1999 Pan American Games

1st Superheavyweight 1992 Senior Nationals

8th Superheavyweight 1992 Olympic Games

2nd Superheavyweight 1993 Senior Nationals

2nd Superheavyweight 1994 Senior Nationals

3rd Superheavyweight 1995 Pan American Games

 

Brett Brian

Brett started lifting in high school and was coached by Gayle Hatch. Brett is a 2X Olympian, 3X Senior National Champion, American Open Champion, US Olympic Festival Champion, Pan American Medalist and World Team Member. Brett was the 1990 USAW Athlete of the Year and was nominated for the Sullivan Award.

 

7th 90kg class 1986 Senior Nationals

3rd 90kg class 1987 Senior Nationals

3rd 90kg class 1987 Pan American Games

1st 90kg class 1988 Senior Nationals

14th 90kg class 1988 Olympic Games

2nd 90kg class 1989 Senior Nationals

2nd 90kg class 1990 Senior Nationals

1st 90kg class 1990 Goodwill Games

1st 90kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

2nd 90kg class 1991 Pan American Games

1st 90kg class 1992 Senior Nationals

13th 90kg class 1992 Olympic Games

 

Richard “Rich” Schutz

Rich started lifting in the late 1970’s. His father Fred the 1958 Senior National Champion in the 198lb class was his initial coach. Later he was coached by Roger Nielsen. Rich lifted for the Sayre Park Weightlifting Club for much of his career. Rich is a 2X Olympian, 9X Senior National Champion, 2X Pan American games silver medalist and a 5X US Olympic Festival Champion.

 

1st 100kg class 1986 Senior Nationals

1st 110kg class 1987 Senior Nationals

2nd 110kg class 1987 Pan American Games

1st 100kg class 1988 Senior Nationals

11th 110kg class 1988 Olympic Games

1st 100kg class 1989 Senior Nationals

1st 110kg class 1990 Senior Nationals

1st 100kg class 1991Senior Nationals

2nd 110kg class 1991 Pan American Games

1st 110kg class 1992 Senior Nationals

18th 110kg class 1992 Olympics                                                    

1st 108kg class 1993 Senior Nationals

1st 99kg class 1994 Senior Nationals

David Langon

1st 90kg class 1985 National Juniors

1st 90kg class 1986 National Juniors

1st 90kg class 1987 National Juniors

2nd 90kg class 1987 Senior Nationals

2nd 90kg class 1988 Senior Nationals

3rd 100kg class 1989 Senior Nationals

1st 100kg class 1990 Senior Nationals

1st 100kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

     100kg class 1992 Olympic Games

 

Roberto “Tony” Urrutia

12/7/1957-12/6/2024

 

Tony lifted for Cuba until 1980 when he defected to the United States. Tony was a 3X World Champion a Pan American Games Champion and a 5X Senior National Champion. Tony set 7 World Records during his career.

 

1st 67.5kg class 1975 Pan American Games

6th 67.5kg class 1976 Olympic Games

1st 67.5kg class 1977 World Championships

1st 75kg class 1978 World Championships

1st 75kg class 1979 World Championships

1st 75kg class 1979 Pan American Games      

1st 75kg class 1987 Senior Nationals

3rd 82.5kg class 1987 Pan American Games

1st 75kg class 1988 Senior Nationals

8th 75kg class 1988 Olympic Games

1st 82.5kg class 1989 Senior Nationals

1st 82.5kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

1st 82.5kg class 1992 Senior Nationals

17th 82.5kg class 1992 Olympic Games

2nd 91kg class 1995 Senior Nationals

 

Wesley “Wes” Barnett

 

Wes started lifting at 12 years old and was coached by Dennis Snethen. Later Wes was coached by Dragomir Cioroslan at the Olympic Training Center. Wes is a 2X Olympian, 3X Pan American Championships competitor, World Championships competitor, 7X Senior National Champion and American Record holder. After his competitive career Wes became Executive Director of the US Weightlifting Federation.

 

1^st 90kg class 1990 National Collegiate Champion

1^st 90kg class 1990 Junior Nationals

5^th 90kg class 1990 Senior Nationals

1^st 90kg class 1990 National Collegiate Championships

2^nd 100kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

1^st 100kg class 1991 US Olympic Festival

2^nd 100kg class Pan American Games

1^st 100kg class 1992 Senior Nationals

15^th 100kg class 1992 Olympic Games

1^st 99kg class 1993 Senior Nationals

1^st 108kg class 1993 12^th Silver Dragon Tournament

1^st 108kg class 1994 Senior Nationals

1^st 108kg class 1995 Senior Nationals

1^st 108kg class 1995 Pan American Games

18^th 108kg class 1995 World Championships

6^th 108kg class 1996 Olympic Games

1^st 108kg class 1997 Senior Nationals

3^rd 108kg class 1997 World Championships

2^nd Superheavyweight class 1998 Senior Nationals

1^st 105kg class 1999 Senior Nationals

3^rd 105kg class 1999 Pan American Games

 

Timothy “Tim” McRae

 

Tim was coached by Dragomir Cioroslan while at the Olympic Training Center. Tim is a 2X Olympian, competed in 2 Pan American Games, competed in several World Championships and is a 7X Senior National Champion. Tim also set several American Records during his career. After his lifting career Tim became a very successful High School Weightlifting Coach.

 

1^st 56kg class 1989 Senior Nationals

3^rd 56kg class 1989 Junior Pan American Games

12^th 56kg class 1989 Junior World Championships

1^st 56kg class 1989 US Olympic Festival

3^rd 60kg class 1990 Senior Nationals

9^th 60kg class 1990 Junior World Championships

2^nd 67.5kg class 1991 US Olympic Festival

1^st 67.5kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

                            1991 World Championships

2^nd 67.5kg class 1992 Senior Nationals

8^th 67.5kg class 1992 Olympic Games

1^st 64kg class 1993 Senior Nationals

1^st 70kg class 1993 12^th Silver Dragon Tournament

1^st 64kg class 1993 US Olympic Festival

                         1993 World Championships

1^st 70kg class 1994 Senior Nationals

1^st 70kg class 1994 US Olympic Festival

1^st 70kg class 1995 US Olympic Festival

                         1995 World Championships

3^rd 70kg class 1995 Pan American Games

14^th 70kg class 1996 Olympic Games

1^st 70kg class 1996 Senior Nationals

1^st 76kg class 1997 Senior Nationals

1^st 85kg class 1998 Senior Nationals

1^st 85kg class 1999 Senior Nationals

3^rd 85kg class 1999 Pan American Games

2^nd 77kg class 2000 Senior National

 

Vernon Patao

 

Vernon learned to lift at Dr. Nelson Yogi’s garage in Kahului on Maui before going on to represent the United States at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. Vernon is a 2X Olympian and a 3X Senior National Champion.

 

1^st 67.5kg class 1990 Junior Olympic Championships

3^rd 67.5kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

1^st 67.5kg class 1992 Senior Nationals

10^th 67.5kg class 1992 Olympic Games

1^st 64kg class 1994 Senior Nationals

1^st 64kg class 1995 Senior Nationals

3^rd 64kg class 1996 Senior Nationals

22^nd 64kg class 1996 Olympic Games

 

Mark Henry

 

Mark started lifting as a teenager and quickly became a Texas powerlifting legend. Dr. Terry Todd followed Marks powerlifting career and encouraged Mark to try Olympic lifting. Once again Mark quickly rose to the top junior and senior ranks. Mark is a 2X Olympian, Weightlifting and Powerlifting World Team Member, 3X Senior National Champion and a World Champion Powerlifter. Mark held all the American Olympic Lifting records in his class and held American and World records in Powerlifting.

 

Olympic Lifting

 

4^th Superheavyweight 1991 Senior Nationals

6^th Superheavyweight 1991 Junior World Championships

1^st Superheavyweight 1991 US National Junior Weightlifting Championships

2^nd Superheavyweight 1991 American Open

3^rd Superheavyweight 1992 Senior Nationals

1^st Superheavyweight 1992 American Open

10^th Superheavyweight 1992 Olympic Games

1^st Superheavyweight 1993 Senior Nationals

1^st Superheavyweight 1993 US Olympic Festival

14^th Superheavyweight 1993 World Championships

1^st Superheavyweight 1994 US Olympic Festival

1^st Superheavyweight 1994 Senior Nationals

2^nd Superheavyweight 1995 Pan American Games

15^th Superheavyweight 1995 World Championships

1^st Superheavyweight 1996 Senior Nationals

     Superheavyweight 1996 Olympic Games

 

Powerlifting

 

2^nd +125kg class USPF 1990 National Powerlifting Championships

1^st +125kg class 1991 International Junior Powerlifting Championships

1^st +145kg class 1995 WDFPF World Championships

1^st +145kg class 1995 USAPL National Powerlifting Championships

1^st +145kg class 1997 USAPL National Powerlifting Championships

 

Strongman

 

1^st 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic

 

Bryan Jacob

 

Bryan began his lifting career by competing in the Florida High School Weightlifting program (bench press & C&J). Bryan was Florida State Champion in 1986 and 1987. Bryan started Olympic lifting in 1987 after spending a week at the National Training Center in Colorado Springs. Bryan was coached by Ben Green and later by John Coffee. Bryan is a 2X Olympian, 5X World Championships team member, 2X Pan American Games Silver Medalist, 9X Senior National Champion and set several American Records.

 

1^st 60kg class 1988 National Junior Champion

1^st 60kg class 1989 National Junior Champion

5^th 60kg class 1988 Senior Nationals

2^nd 60kg class 1989 Senior Nationals

1^st 60kg class 1990 Senior Nationals

9^th 60kg class 1990 World Championships

1^st 60kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

      60kg class 1991 World Championships

1^st 60kg class 1991 US Olympic Festival

2^nd 60kg class 1991 Pan American Games

1^st 60kg class 1992 Senior Nationals

18^th 60kg class 1992 Olympic Games

1^st 59kg class 1993 Senior Nationals

1^st 59kg class 1993 US Olympic Festival

     59kg class 1993 World Championships

1^st 59kg class 1994 Senior Nationals

     59kg class 1994 World Championships

1^st 59kg class 1995 Senior Nationals

2^nd 59kg class 1995 Pan American Games

11^th 59kg class 1995 World Championships

9^th 59kg class 1996 Olympic Games

1^st 64kg class 1997 Senior Nationals

2^nd 62kg class 1998 Senior Nationals

1^st 62kg class 1999 Senior Nationals

2^nd 62kg class 2000 Senior Nationals

1^st 62kg class 2001 Senior Nationals

3^rd 62kg class 2002 Senior Nationals

 

Paul Fleschler

Alternate

 

Paul started lifting in high school in 1982 and was coached by Chuck Hansen. Later Paul joined the Sayre Park Weightlifting Club and was coached by Roger Nielsen. At the Olympic Training Center Paul was coached by Dragomir Cioroslan and later in his career by Frank Eksten. Paul was an Olympian, competed at several Junior and Senior World Championships and was a 2X Senior National Champion and American Record Holder. After retiring from competing Paul became the USAW Head Coach.

 

4th 75kg class 1987 Senior Nationals     

     75kg class 1987 Junior World Championships

     90kg class 1988 Junior World Championships

1st 90kg class 1988 National Junior Championships

4th 90kg class 1988 Senior Nationals

3rd 90kg class 1990 Senior Nationals

      100kg class 1990 World Championships

2nd 90kg class 1991 Senior Nationals

9th 91kg class 1991 World Championships

3rd 90kg class 1991 Pan American Games

      90kg class 1992 Olympic Games (Alternate)

1st 91kg class 1993 Senior Nationals

9th 91kg class 1993 World Championships

1st 91kg class 1994 Senior Nationals

      91kg class 1994 World Championships

27th 91kg class 1995 World Championships

2nd 91kg class 1996 Senior Nationals

 

Jeff Michaels

Alternate

 

Jeff started lifting in High School and soon joined the Sayre Park Weightlifting Club coached by Mark LeMenager. Jeff is a 2X Olympian, Junior and Senior World Championships team member, Pan American Champion, 6X Senior National Champion and American Record holder and 1981 Weightlifter of the Year.

 

1st 100kg class 1980 National AAU Junior Weightlifting Championships

9th 100kg class 1980 Junior World Championships

4th 100kg class 1981 Junior World Championships

1st 100kg class 1981 Junior Pan American Games

1st 100kg class 1981 National Junior Weightlifting Championships

1st 110kg class 1981 Junior Olympic Weightlifting Championships

4th 110kg class 1981 Junior World Championships

1st 110kg class 1982 Senior Nationals

6th 110kg class 1982 World Championships

1st 110kg class 1983 Senior Nationals

1st 110kg class 1983 Pan American Games

3rd 110kg class 1983 Friendship Cup

1st 110kg class 1985 Senior Nationals

2nd 110kg class 1987 Senior Nationals

1st 110kg class 1988 Senior Nationals

13th 110kg class 1988 Olympic Games

1st 110kg class 1989 Senior Nationals

1st Superheavyweight 1990 Senior Nationals

2nd Superheavyweight 1991 Senior Nationals

3rd Superheavyweight 1991 Pan American Games

2nd Superheavyweight 1992 Senior Nationals

        Superheavyweight 1992 Olympic Games (Alternate)

3rd Superheavyweight 1996 Senior Nationals

 

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: no Created: Mon Dec 15 14:08:21 UTC 2025 | Last Updated: Wed Dec 17 13:15:06 UTC 2025