Frank X. Kruger Missouri Strength and Power HoF inductee 2023

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

Frank X. Kugler

3/29/1879-7/7/1952

1904 Olympic Team

 

Frank won the bronze medal for the All-Around Dumbbell Lift and the bronze medal for the Two Hand Lift. Frank also won a bronze medal in the Tug of War and a silver medal in Free Style Wrestling. Frank is the only Olympian to win a medal in three sports at the same Olympics.

 

The two weightlifting events were not the weightlifting 5, 3, or 2 lift competitions that would follow. The All-Around Dumbbell Lift's first event consisted of 10 different lifts. The two-hand lift resembled the modern-day Clean & Jerk but was essentially getting the weight overhead any way you could. Rules were subjective and were made up as the competition progressed. In 1904 weightlifting was not an organized sport, and the 1904 Olympics were controversial in several ways. For instance, the games lasted five months.

 

Frank was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in the 1890s. He was a brewer in Saint Louis, Missouri, representing the Saint Louis Southwest Turnverein No 2 Team. The team decided to go to the Olympic Games since they were being held in Saint Louis. Frank was an all-around athlete typical of his day. He competed in wrestling, track and field, and gymnastics and was known as a strength athlete.

 

Frank could not speak English at the 1904 games and did not receive citizenship until 1913. The IOC listed Frank as a member of the US delegation before 2022 and then assigned his medals to Germany. However, USA Weightlifting still has Frank winning his medals for the United States. Frank lived in the United States for 60 years and was an American. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Afton, Missouri. 

Weightlifting at the 1904 Olympics - Physical Culture Study

 

 

See Physical Culture Study Weightlifting at the 1904 Olympics by Conor Heffernan 9/28/2016. Available on line. //https://physicalculturestudy.com/2016/09/28/weightlifting-at-the-1904-olympics/

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Thu Jun 15 18:44:32 UTC 2023 | Last Updated: Sun Dec 24 17:11:58 UTC 2023