Atlast Come to Life

The greatest weight lifter of modern times, and one of the world's most remarkable athletes, is a stocky, Sacramento-born Nisei named Tommy Kono, 29. He wears horn-rimmed glasses, speaks with unfeigned modesty, and seems as innocuous as Clark Kent—until he takes off his clothes and sets to work. Then Kono becomes Superman himself.

Last week, at the A.A.U. championships and Olympic tryouts in Cleveland, Kono carefully put aside his glasses, chalked his hands, and approached the bar bells like old and honored adversaries. As always, his lifts were marvels of split-second timing and raw power. When Kono was...