Weightlifter Suleymanoglu and Cyclist Indurain Retire

Naim “Pocket Hercules” Suleymanoglu needed but a few seconds to win his third Olympic title in 1996. Miguel Indurain was in the spotlight for three weeks this past summer while he struggled to finish 11th in the Tour de France, more than 14 minutes behind winner Bjarne Riis of Denmark.

Yet Suleymanoglu, the extroverted Turkish weightlifter, and Indurain, the modest cyclist from Spain, had much in common.

They were national heroes.

They retired Thursday, both having won their last major titles at the Atlanta Olympics: Suleymanoglu in the 141-pound weightlifting competition and Indurain in cycling.

In 1995, Indurain, 32, became the first rider to win the Tour de France five times in a row.

“I’ve dedicated enough time to professional cycling,” Indurain said.

Suleymanoglu, 30, only 4 feet 11 and 141 pounds, could lift 400 pounds above his head. In Atlanta, he became the first weightlifter to win three Olympic titles.

“I only have one goal--to rest for a long while and catch up on all that I have missed out on in my youth,” he said.

Tennis

Justin Gimelstob, a 19-year-old UCLA tennis player, defeated Mark Philippoussis of Australia, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), to lead the United States into the finals of the Hopman Cup mixed team championship in Perth, Australia.

“That probably is the biggest win of my career,” said Gimelstob, who is playing with Chanda Rubin. The 2-1 victory gave the United States first place in Group A in the round-robin tournament and the Americans will play either South Africa, Romania or Switzerland in Saturday’s title match.

Top-seeded Thomas Muster of Austria will play Jim Courier in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open today. Muster defeated Christian Ruud of Norway, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5; Courier beat Razvan Sabau of Romania, 6-3, 6-4. . . . Asa Carlsson of Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals of the Gold Coast Classic in Australia when second-seeded Barbara Paulus of Austria withdrew because of a hand injury.

Baseball

The Colorado Rockies re-signed right-hander Kevin Ritz, to a two-year contract. Ritz, 31, was 17-11 with a 5.28 earned-run average in 213 innings in 1996.

The National League said it will review General Motors Corp.’s complaint that Marge Schott, owner of the Cincinnati Reds, may have been unfair regarding sales at her Chevrolet dealership. In a Dec. 4 complaint filed with the Ohio Motor Vehicle Dealers Board, GM alleged that Schott falsified 57 sales at her Chevrolet-Geo dealership in suburban Cincinnati.

Sam Narron, former major league catcher and Brooklyn Dodger coach, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure in Middlesex, N.C. He was 83.

Winter Sports

Two-time Olympian Robert Pipkins and world junior champion Maryann Baribault took the lead in men’s and women’s luge singles after two runs of a 1998 Olympic trials competition at Lake Placid, N.Y. . . . Jari Mantila and Hannu Manninen of Finland won a World Cup Nordic combined team sprint, beating Bjarte Engen Vik and Halldor Skard of Norway by 3.2 seconds in the cross-country phase at Reit Im Winkl, Germany.

Miscellany

Graham James, a former Western Hockey League coach who helped mold some of the NHL’s top stars, pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving some of his former players. James admitted to two counts of sexual assault in Calgary. The defense and prosecution proposed to the court that James serve 3 1/2 years in jail and have no contact with minors for 10 years.

Former Brigham Young basketball player Bryon Ruffner was sentenced to 90 days in jail and fined $10,000 for his role in bilking a Provo, Utah, computer company out of $200,000. Ruffner, 24, pleaded guilty to theft, a second-degree felony, on Oct. 25.

At an awards dinner Jan. 12 in Nashville, the NCAA will honor eight athletes for their achievements in athletics, academics and leadership: Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel of Florida, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Annette Salmeen of UCLA, Virginia running back Tiki Barber, UC San Diego diver Adam Burgasser, Abilene Christian basketball player Jennifer Clarkson, Virginia soccer player Michael Fisher, Olympic swimmer Berit Puggaard of Southern Methodist and Notre Dame soccer player Jennifer Kenola.

World Boxing Organization junior-bantamweight champion Johnny Tapia (39-0-2) will meet International Boxing Federation champion Danny Romero Jr. (29-1-0) in June.

Lance Armstrong, a former world cycling champion who is battling cancer, has resumed training, his French team manager said.

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Miguel Indurain at a Glance

* Age: 32

* Nation: Spain.

* Tour de France wins: 1991, ‘92, ‘93, ‘94, ’95.

* First to win five consecutive Tours and equal overall record of five by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. Finished 11th in 1996, more than 14 minutes behind winner Bjarne Riis of Denmark.

* Other major wins: Tour of Italy in 1992, ‘93; San Sebastian Classic in 1990; Paris-Nice in 1989, 1990; Olympic time trial at 1996 Atlanta Games.

*

Naim Suleymanoglu at a Glance

* Age: 30.

* Nation: Turkey.

* Size: 4 feet 11 inches, 141 pounds.

* First weightlifter to win three gold medals (1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta).

* Seven-time world champion (1985-86, 1989, 1991, 1993-95).

* First lifter to snatch 2 1/2 times his body weight, 336 pounds at the 1988 European Championships.

* At the 1988 Olympics, set six world records in the 132-pound division and lifted 66 pounds more than the silver medalist.