Matthias Steiner
Steiner in 2019
Personal information
Nationality Austrian /  German
Born (1982-08-25) 25 August 1982
Vienna, Austria
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) (2012)
Weight145 kg (320 lb) (2012)
Websitewww.matthiassteiner.com
Sport
Country Austria (2001–2005)
 Germany (2008–2013)
SportWeightlifting
Event+105 kg
ClubChemnitzer AC
Turned pro2001
Coached byFrank Mantek, Michael Vater
Retired2013
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • Snatch: 203 kg (2008)
  • Clean and jerk: 258 kg (2008)
  • Total: 461 kg (2008)
Medal record
Men's weightlifting
Representing  Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing +105 kg
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2010 Antalya+105 kg
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2008 Lignano Sabbiadoro +105 kg
Silver medal – second place 2012 Antalya +105 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Minsk +105 kg

Matthias Steiner (German pronunciation: [maˈtiːas ʃtaɪ̯nɐ] ⓘ; born 25 August 1982 in Vienna) is a retired Austrian-German weightlifter, and Olympic gold medalist.[1]

As a native Austrian, he competed for Austria internationally from 1998 to 2005, in European Championships, World Championships, and the 2004 Summer Olympics. From 2002 to 2005 he was four times Austrian National Champion in the +105 kg category, and holds Austrian records in the −105 kg and +105 kg categories. In 2005, Steiner left the Austrian weightlifting federation, and married a German woman.

Although his wife died in a car accident, he continued his weightlifting career in Germany, eventually received German citizenship in early 2008, won overall silver at the 2008 European Championships, and the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Early and personal life

Matthias Steiner was born in Vienna, Austria.[2] He hails from Obersulz in Lower Austria, where he attended Volksschule (primary school), then Hauptschule (secondary school).[3] Steiner completed an apprenticeship in plumbing.[3]

He started weightlifting in 1995.[4] His father, Friedrich Steiner, a 20-time IWF-Masters World Weightlifting Champion, also ranks first on the IWF 2008 Hall of Fame Survey of Leading Master Lifters.[5][6]

Steiner suffers from Type-1 diabetes, diagnosed at his 18th birthday.[4] Before the diagnosis, the first symptom was an intense thirst, then he lost his appetite, and 5 kilograms (11 lb) of bodyweight within three months.[4] He went to the doctor when his sight deteriorated.[4]

In 2004,[7] a German woman from Zwickau in Saxony had watched Steiner participating in weightlifting contests on TV.[8] She kept asking the Eurosport commentators for his email address, until they gave it to her. She contacted Steiner, and he agreed to meet her in Lower Austria.[7] They married shortly thereafter and hence he moved to Germany, where he then applied for German citizenship.

On 16 July 2007, his wife, Susann, died in a car accident.[9][10] Despite the tragic loss, and after losing 7–8 kilograms (15–18 lb)[7][9] of bodyweight, he was able to continue his training.

In October 2008, Steiner met German TV-newsreader Inge Posmyk. They married in February 2011.[11][12][13]

Weightlifting career

1998–2003

Steiner participated in the 1998 and 1999 European Junior Championships, and the 2000 Junior World Championships.[14]

At the 2000 European Junior Championships in Rijeka, Croatia he came in 8th place in the 94 kg category, with a total of 320 kg (142.5 kg snatch and 177.5 kg clean and jerk).[14]

At the 2001 European Junior Championships in Kalmar, Sweden he won bronze in the −105 kg category, with 360 kg (165 kg and 195 kg).[14] At that time he competed for the AC Woge Bregenz weightlifting club. At the 2002 European Junior Championships in Havířov, Czech Republic he won bronze again in the −105 kg category, with 380 kg (172.5 kg and 207.5 kg).[14]

Steiner won the Austrian National Championships in the +105 kg category in 2002 with a total of 370 kg, and in 2003 with a total of 390 kg.[15]

Matthias Steiner in 2010

2004

He won the 2004 Austrian National Championships in the +105 kg category with a total of 400 kg.[15]

Steiner continued to increase his performance; at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens he competed for Austria, and lifted 405 kg (182.5 kg and 222.5 kg) and went into 7th place in the -105 kg category.[16]

2005

Im Gewichtheben hat der Trainer so ziemlich den größten Einfluss auf den Ausgang eines Wettkampfs. Darum ist das auch eine so enorm wichtige Person für jeden Athleten.
In weightlifting, the coach has about the greatest influence on the outcome of a competition. For this reason the coach is such an enormously important person for every athlete.

Matthias Steiner, Steiner: "In Deutschland arbeiten Profis"

Steiner won the 2005 Austrian National Championships in the +105 kg category with a total of 382.5 kg.[15]

Until 2005 he competed regularly in World Championships and European Championships for Austria. In 2005, the Austrian national coach was replaced against Steiners will, which caused tension between Steiner and the Austrian weightlifting federation.[17] He kept the coach as personal coach, who however did not get accredited for the 2005 European Championships in Sofia.[17][18]

Steiner also could no longer keep his body weight below 105 kilograms (231 lb), and bulked up for the +105 kg category.[3][14] The 2005 European Championships were his first event in the new weight category.

At the European Championships, a lot went wrong and Steiner failed three snatch attempts.[14] He had to compete in the B-group, because the European Weightlifting Federation did not accept the announced starting weights.[18] After warming up he disagreed with the national coach concerning the starting weight, and time ran out on the first attempt.[18] The Austrian national coach, together with other functionaries, accused Steiner of deliberate failure,[18] which Steiner denied.[17] As a consequence, he left the Austrian weightlifting federation.

2006–2007

During the three years that Steiner applied for German citizenship, he was not allowed to compete in international competitions. At the 2007 European Championships he was co-commentator with Marc Huster for Eurosport.[19] Since moving to Germany he competes for the Chemnitzer AC weightlifting club,[20] and is their team captain in the German weightlifting league.[21] Steiner trains in the German Federal Weightlifting Center in Leimen near Heidelberg, with German national coach Frank Mantek.[9]

Matthias Steiner in 2010

2008

Steiner received German citizenship in early 2008,[20] and started to compete internationally again, for Germany. On 23 January he won the Beijing Pre-Olympic Tournament with a total of 423 kg.[22]

At the 2008 European Championships in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy in the over 105 kg category he was the only lifter to snatch 200 kg, winning gold. In clean and jerk he won bronze with a personal best of 246 kg. All his six attempts were successful. With a total result of 446 kg he won overall silver behind Viktors Ščerbatihs from Latvia, who lifted 447 kg.[23]

The biggest success of Steiner's career came in August 2008, when he won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. After World record holder Hossein Rezazadeh had retired in July 2008, the event turned into a close competition between Steiner, Evgeny Chigishev, and the tournament favorite, European and World champion Viktors Ščerbatihs.[2]

During the Olympic competition, Steiner failed in his third snatch attempt, and with 203 kg ranked fourth after the snatch. Ščerbatihs was in position to take the lead in the clean and jerk, but failed in his second attempt. Steiner also failed in his first clean and jerk attempt, and Chigishev took the lead with 250 kg in the clean and jerk. Ščerbatihs failed in his third attempt, which would have forced Steiner to increase his last attempt to 261 kg in order to win gold. With a successful clean and jerk of 258 kg, and a total of 461 kg, Steiner became an Olympic gold medalist.[24]

Steiner stood on the medalists' podium with a photo of his late wife, who would otherwise have accompanied him to the Games.[25][26]

2009–2015

In January 2009, Steiner was operated on for an inguinal hernia.[27][28] He had to pull out of competing at the 2009 Arnold Sports Festival in March, nevertheless was part of the German delegation at the event and met with Arnold Schwarzenegger.[29][30]

At the 2009 German Championships he ranked second in the snatch behind Almir Velagic, and won overall with a total of 430 kg.[14][31]

At the 2010 European Championships he ranked third with a total of 426 kg.[14]

In the 2012 London Olympics weightlifting competition Steiner was injured during the snatch portion of the competition when he attempted to pull 196 kg but was hit in the neck by the barbell. While not seriously hurt, Steiner had to abandon the competition as a result of his injury.[32] He announced his retirement from competitive weightlifting in March 2013.[33][34]

Steiner participated in Season 8 of the German TV dance show Let's Dance, finishing third.[35]

Career statistics

Date Tournament Venue Weight category Snatch Rank Clean and jerk Rank Overall Rank
2001-04-28 European Championships Trenčín, Slovakia −94 kg 150.0 kg 15th 175.0 kg 15th 325.0 kg 16th
2002-04-25 European Championships Antalya, Turkey +105 kg 172.5 kg 12th 207.5 kg 11th 380 kg 11th
2002-11-23 World Championships Warsaw, Poland −105 kg 180.0 kg 12th 215.0 kg 12th 395.0 kg 12th
2003-04-18 European Championships Loutraki, Greece −105 kg 180.0 kg 8th 212.5 kg 9th 392.5 kg 8th
2003-11-17 World Championships Vancouver, Canada −105 kg 182.5 kg 9th 220.0 kg 6th 402.5 kg 7th
2004-04-24 European Championships Kiev, Ukraine −105 kg 180.0 kg 10th 225.0 kg 5th 405.0 kg 7th
2004-08-15 Olympic Games Athens, Greece −105 kg 182.5 kg – 222.5 kg – 405.0 kg 7th
2005-04-22 European Championships Sofia, Bulgaria +105 kg – – – – – DNF
2008-04-14 European Championships Lignano S., Italy +105 kg 200.0 kg 1st 246.0 kg 3rd 446.0 kg 2nd
2008-08-19 Olympic Games Beijing, China +105 kg 203.0 kg – 258.0 kg – 461.0 kg 1st
2010-04-11 European Championships Minsk, Belarus +105 kg 190.0 kg 4th 236.0 kg 2nd 426.0 kg 3rd

National championships

Year Country Weight category Snatch Rank Clean and jerk Rank Overall Rank
2002 Austria +105 kg 167.5 kg 1st 202.5 kg 1st 370.0 kg 1st
2003 Austria +105 kg 175.0 kg 1st 215.0 kg 1st 390.0 kg 1st
2004 Austria +105 kg 177.5 kg 1st 222.5 kg 1st 400.0 kg 1st
2005 Austria +105 kg 172.5 kg 1st 210.0 kg 1st 382.5 kg 1st
2009 Germany +105 kg 190.0 kg 2nd 240.0 kg 1st 430.0 kg 1st

Personal bests

Steiner holds Austrian records in the −105 kg and +105 kg categories.[36]

Sponsorships

In 2008, Steiner signed a four-year contract with marketing company "movie & more" in Cologne.[37] Previously, he was supported by Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe and his weightlifting club Chemnitzer AC. The Bundeswehr, while supporting other German weightlifters, did not admit Steiner because of his diabetes.[38]

Media

On 20 August 2008, the day after he won the Olympic gold medal, Steiner featured on the cover of China Daily's Olympian, titled "Supersteiner".[39][40]

TV appearances

Apart from sports events, where he participated in or commented on weightlifting competitions, Steiner also appeared on a number of talk shows and game shows in Germany and Austria, including Wetten, dass..? and Die Millionenshow (Austrian Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Celebrity Special Edition).[41]

Awards

  • Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich (Austria)[42][43]
  • Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Germany)[44]
  • 2008 German Weightlifter of the Year[45]
  • 2008 Bambi award, category Sports[46]
  • 2008 German Sportspersonality of the year[47] – Steiner was the first weightlifter to receive this award.[5]
  • 2008 IWF World Weightlifting Lifter of the Year[48]
  • 2008 Gold Medal Summer Olympics

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Matthias Steiner". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 Branch, John (20 August 2008). "Heavy on Emotion". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 "Steiner: "In Deutschland arbeiten Profis"". LAOLA1.at (in German). 20 August 2008. Archived from the original on 23 August 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Matthias Steiner – Das Interview" (in German). diabetes-world.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  5. 1 2 "Matthias Steiner: Seine Geheimnisse" (in German). Abendzeitung. 22 December 2008. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Hall of Fame Survey (revised 13-Sep-2008)". IWF-Masters Weightlifting. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 Kelnberger, Josef (19 August 2008). "461 Kilo – für seine Frau". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  8. ↑ Voigt, Benedikt (19 August 2008). "Matthias Steiner hebt Gold – für Deutschland und seine verstorbene Frau". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  9. 1 2 3 Simeoni, Evi (6 August 2007). "Die Hantel als Halt". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  10. ↑ "Suspended sentence for driver who killed wife of German Olympic gold medalist". CBS News. Associated Press. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "BALL DES SPORTS: Steiner und Posmyk im Blitzlichtgewitter". Der Spiegel (in German). 7 February 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  12. ↑ "Inge Posmyk und Matthias Steiner: Hochzeit in Sicht?". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 8 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  13. ↑ "Matthias Steiner hat heimlich geheiratet". Die Welt (in German). 23 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Steiner Matthias (SAS)". IAT Weightlifting Database.
  15. 1 2 3 "Staatsmeister seit 1973" (in German). Austrian Weightlifting Federation. Archived from the original (xls) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  16. ↑ "STEINER Matthias". International Weightlifting Federation. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008.
  17. 1 2 3 "ÖGV und Steiner". LAOLA1.at (in German). 20 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Matthias Steiner sorgt bei EM für Eklat". ORF Sport (in German). Archived from the original on 25 August 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  19. ↑ Bürger, Hilmar. "EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS – REPORT 3: ENGLISH". ELEIKO Equipment AB, International Weightlifting Agency Berlin (IWA). Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  20. 1 2 Datler, Markku (21 April 2008). "Gewichtheben: Wenn ein starker Mann in Österreich verkannt wird" (in German). Die Presse. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  21. 1 2 "Unser Team – Sportler der Bundesligamannschaft" (in German). Chemnitzer Athleten Club e.V. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  22. ↑ "2008 Invitational Tournament Beijing". The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Archived from the original on 25 August 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  23. ↑ "STEINER Matthias". International Weightlifting Federation. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008.
  24. ↑ "Weightlifting Results Men's +105kg". Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  25. ↑ "Video – Emotional Steiner lifts weightlifting gold". BBC Sport. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  26. ↑ Judd, Ron (20 August 2008). "A touching Olympic moment that wasn't to be missed". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "German weightlifter Matthias Steiner has just undergone surgery". Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  28. ↑ "Olympiasieger Steiner an der Leiste operiert". Focus (in German). 30 January 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  29. ↑ "German Weightlifters Up for the Arnold". Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  30. ↑ "Weightlifting: Arnold Schwarzenegger & Steiner Meet". Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  31. ↑ "Eisen und andere Lasten". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 25 October 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  32. ↑ Defending champion Matthias Steiner of Germany hit in the neck by the barbell, unable to continue
  33. ↑ "Weightlifting News - Matthias Steiner Ends Career". Allthingsgym.com. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  34. ↑ "Olympiasieger im Gewichtheben - Mehr Sport - sportschau.de". Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  35. ↑ RTL German TV channel
  36. ↑ "Rekorde: Allgemeine Klasse Männer" (in German). Austrian Weightlifting Federation. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  37. ↑ "Olympia-Sieger Matthias Steiner bei movie & more" (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  38. ↑ "Sportler des Monats: Goldmedaillengewinner im Gewichtheben Matthias Steiner im Gespräch" (in German). Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  39. ↑ "OLYMPIAN – Wednesday August 20, 2008". China Daily. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  40. ↑ "Steiners Schicksal rührt Millionen". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 20 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  41. ↑ Matthias Steiner at IMDb
  42. ↑ "Sportstaatssekretär Lopatka: Nach Gold in Peking Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Matthias Steiner" (in German). Bundespressedienst. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  43. ↑ "Austria's homage to German Olympic medallist Matthias Steiner". Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  44. ↑ "Helden von Peking geehrt" (in German). n-tv. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  45. ↑ "Steiner als "Gewichtheber des Jahres" gefeiert". Focus (in German). 29 November 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  46. ↑ Kost, Maikka (27 November 2008). "Ein stiller Star ist der Held des Abends" (in German). Badische Zeitung. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  47. ↑ "Swimmer Steffen, weightlifter Steiner win German sports award". Deutsche Welle. 22 December 2008. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  48. ↑ "2008 Lifters of the Year: Liu Chunhong and Matthias Steiner". International Sports Press Association. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
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