Mario Martinez

One-time Soledad resident Mario Martinez, the last American to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting, passed away last week at the age of 60.

Martinez, who was born in Salinas and raised in Soledad as a youth and teenager, was a silver medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the Super-Heavyweight competition.

He finished fourth in the 1988 Olympics and eighth in the 1992 Summer Games.

In between his Olympic appearances, Martinez captured nine medals at the Pan American Games, including three gold medals in 1987. He was a 10-time United States Champion, holding numerous American records during the height of his career.

Martinez, who played football and wrestled at Gonzales High, competed for 23 years in weightlifting. He is regarded as one of the best American weightlifters in United States history.