Ireneusz Paliński (13 May 1932 – 9 July 2006) was the first Polish weightlifter to win an Olympic gold medal, which he did in 1960.

In total Paliński set six world records in the clean and jerk, which was his favorite event.

[2][3] Paliński was the oldest of seven brothers born into a poor family.

He graduated from a technical university and was a wood craftsman by profession.

In 1965, he married Zofia Drozdowska, a teacher 13 years his junior.