Dietrich Wortmann New York Strength and Power HoF inductee 2022 (Contributor)

By Strength and Power Hall of Fam

Dietrich Wortmann

1/11/1884-9/21/1952

 

Dietrich was appointed as the first AAU Weightlifting Chairman in 1929. In 1932 he was elected Vice-President of the IWF*. Dietrich proposed continental federations in 1948 leading to the creation of the Pan-Am, European and Asian Federations.  Dietrich was Vice-President from 1932 until 1951 when he was elected President of the International Weightlifting Federation. Dietrich was the first of two Americans to serve as President. Dietrich was the President and or honorary President of the German American Athletic Club in New York City for 45 years. He was also Chairman of the Metropolitan New York Weightlifting Committee. Dietrich organized the first AAU National Weightlifting Championships in May 1929. He also served for many years as a weightlifting official at World Championships and Olympic Games.

 

Dietrich was born in Germany and I am not sure when he immigrated to the United States. However, when he represented Germany as a wrestler at the 1904 Olympics he was living in the United States.  Dietrich was the United States Wrestling Champion in the welterweight class in 1906. In his day athletes often participated in both wrestling and weightlifting. Dietrich was an architect in New York City.

 

*in 1932 the IWF was known as the Federation Internationale Halterophile  (FIH)

 

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Wed Sep 28 19:25:39 UTC 2022 | Last Updated: Wed Dec 27 13:58:22 UTC 2023