Cohen, Michael - Weightlifting, 1992
Michael Cohen is one of the most successful amateur athletes Savannah has ever produced. He is a weightlifting champion on local, regional, national, and international levels. He trained under his father, Howard Cohen, who qualified for the 1960 Olympics bust was unable to compete due to an injury. When Michael qualified for the 1980 Olympic weightlifting team, Cohen’s dreams were realized. They were soon dashed with the U.S. team boycotted the Moscow games. Cohen holds a myriad of titles, including Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame “Athlete of the Year for 1980” and Georgia Athlete of the Year in 1972 and 1975. He has won gold medals in the National Junior World Championship, the National Junior Olympics, and the American Games. He also won silver medals in the Pan American Games. Cohen competed four times in the Maccabian Games, the Olympic-style event held by Israel, and holds records in each of the four weight classes. Cohen retired from international competition from 1991. He remains active in the sport by coaching Team Savannah, a group of prospective Olympians who won numerous state, regional, and national events and were invited in 1992 to train at the U.S. Olympic weightlifting training site.