After surviving Munich - where 11 Israelis were killed by the Palestinian group Black September - Barak (pictured top) was a significant figure in leading his nation back into the international weightlifting community.

Following his retirement from top-level competition he embarked on a career as an official in the sport, and served as a member of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board and its Scientific and Research Committee from 1992 to 2009.

As well as being a technical official at Olympic Games, Youth Olympics, Universiades and many World Championships, he was chair of the IWF Medical Committee for two terms and appeared on the IWF anti-doping hearing panel on a number of occasions.

Barak also organised the first IWF University World Championships in 1998 in Tel Aviv and regularly hosted the Friendship Games, a basketball tournament for university teams.

The last major event held in Israel under his watch was the third International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Weightlifting Championships in Eilat.

"Dr Shimon Barak was the incarnation of the sportsman: active, athletic, strong in mind and body and a fearless champion of fair play; and at the same time, also a man of honour, a family man and a true friend," read an IWF statement.

"His accomplishments were plenty yet his oeuvre was far from being finished.

"He fought bravely for a year before at the incredibly young age of 59 years he finally lost the game against the cruel disease, cancer.

"The IWF and the weightlifting family mourn his untimely departure and share the grief of his family.

"Dr Shimon Barak's dear memory will live with us forever."

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