James Bradford District of Columbia Strength and Power HoF inductee 2022
James “Jim” Bradford
11/1/1928-9/13/2013
BIO
By Strength and Power Hall of Fame
Jim started lifting in the 1940’s and quickly became a world class heavyweight. Jim won silver medals at 2 Olympics and silver medals at 4 world championships. Jim could have been the 1951 World Heavyweight Champion but chose to lift for the silver. The defending World and Olympic Champion John Davis was lifting injured and could barely stand on his left leg. Jim took enough weight to tie Davis on his second attempt and then refused his third attempt fearing Davis would try more and further injure himself and possibly end his career. Jim was an army officer and served in Korea which limited his ability to train for a number of years. In 1956 Jim choose to stay home with his pregnant wife instead of going to the Olympics.
Olympic Games
2nd Heavyweight 1952
2nd Heavyweight 1960
World Championships
2nd Heavyweight 1951
2nd Heavyweight 1954
2nd Heavyweight 1955
2nd Heavyweight 1959
North American Championships
2nd Heavyweight 1950
Senior Nationals
3rd Heavyweight 1950
2nd Heavyweight 1952
2nd Heavyweight 1959
1st Heavyweight 1960
1st Heavyweight 1961
Junior Nationals
1st Heavyweight 1950
Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Sat Feb 05 00:40:03 UTC 2022 | Last Updated: Sun Dec 24 23:45:50 UTC 2023