1952 USA Olympic Team

Strength and Power Hall of Fame

2024

1952 Olympic Team

 

The 1952 Olympics were held in Helsinki Finland from 7/29-8/14/1952. Weightlifting consisted of 7 weight classes 56kg, 60kg, 67.7kg, 75kg, 82.5kg, 90kg and +90kg. This was the first time the 90kg class had been included in the Olympic Games. The competition for all weight classes was held on 7/25-27/1952 at the Messuhalli or Exhibition Hall II. The United States Team Manager was Dietrich Wortmann, Assistant Managers David Matlin and Clarence Johnson, Team Coach Bob Hoffman and Team Trainer Alvin Roy. The American Team won the Team Title.

 

The Athletes

 

John Davis

1/12/1921- 7/13/1984

 

John started training as a teenager in New York City in the 1930’s and despite his humble circumstances he became the greatest athlete of his era regardless of the sport. John won his first World Championships in 1938 when he was 17. Unfortunately, due to World War 2 there would not be another World Championships until 1946. John was not able to compete internationally for 7 of his most productive years. John was drafted in 1943 and served in the pacific where he contracted malaria and lost over 50 pounds. However, upon discharge from the Army John returned to competition. At times during John’s competitive career he would have to sleep in his vehicle and bring his own food because he was black. Nothing could keep John Davis down. His mental attitude was no accident. He became the best!  2X Olympic Champion, Pan American Champion, 8X World Champion, and 12X Senior National Champion. John set 16 Official World Records and 12 unofficial World Records as World records were not recognized during the war years. I recommend Brooks D. Kubik’s book  Black Iron – The John Davis Story.

 

1940, 1948, 1952 Olympic Team

1948 Olympics 1st Heavyweight

1952 Olympics 1st Heavyweight

1938 1st World Championships 181lb class (John was 17 years old)

1946 1st World Championships Heavyweight

1947 1st World Championships Heavyweight

1948 1st World & Olympic Championships Heavyweight

1949 1st World Championships Heavyweight

1950 1st World Championships Heavyweight

1951 1st World Championships Heavyweight

1952 1st World and & Olympic Championships Heavyweight

1953 2nd World Championships Heavyweight

1951 1st Pan American Games Heavyweight

1938 Senior Nationals  2nd  181lb class

1955 Senior Nationals 2nd Heavyweight

1956 Senior Nationals 2nd Heavyweight

12X Senior National Champion 1939,40,41,42,43,46,47,48,50,51,52 & 53

1938 Junior National Champion

Established 16 World Records and 12 unofficial

1st lifter to officially C&J 400Lbs, 1951 Seniors Los Angeles.

1st lifter to unofficially total 1,000lbs on the three Olympic lifts 2/1/1941

Usually held all national and world records in his weight class during his career.

 

Norbert “Norb” Schemansky

5/30/1924-9/7/2016

 

Norb competed from 1941 to 1968. He served 3 years in the Army during WW2 and missed 2 years of competition due to two major back surgeries. Due to back surgery Norb missed the 1956 Olympics.  Norb is probably the greatest heavyweight of all time. Norb weighed 182lbs at his first meet in 1941 and 277lbs at one of his last meets in 1967. In 1967 Norb cleaned and pressed 415lbs for the heaviest press of his long career at almost 44 years old. At the 1962 Worlds Norb had a ten kilo lead over Yuri Vlasov going into the C&J. Vlasov’s double dip jerk was passed 2 to 1 giving Vlasov the title. Norb was 38 years old. Norb’s book Mr. Weightlifting details Norb’s long career.

Olympic Games

 

2nd Heavyweight 1948

1st Middle-heavyweight 1952

3rd Heavyweight 1960

3rd Heavyweight 1964

 

World Championships

2nd 1947 Heavyweight

1st 1951 Middle-heavyweight

1st 1953 Middle-heavyweight

1st 1954 Middle-heavyweight

2nd 1962 Heavyweight

2nd 1963 Heavyweight

 

Pan American Games

1st 1955 Heavyweight

 

North American Championships

 

1st 1949 Heavyweight

1st 1950 Heavyweight

1st 1952 Heavyweight

1st 1957 Heavyweight

1st 1959 Heavyweight

1st 1963 Heavyweight

1st 1964 Heavyweight

 

Senior Nationals

2nd 1947 Heavyweight

2nd 1948 Heavyweight

1st 1949 Heavyweight

2nd 1950 Heavyweight

1st 1951 Middle-heavyweight

1st 1952 Middle-heavyweight

1st 1953 Middle-heavyweight

1st 1954 Heavyweight

1st 1957 Heavyweight

3d 1959 Heavyweight

2nd 1960 Heavyweight

1st 1962 Heavyweight

2nd 1963 Heavyweight

1st 1964 Heavyweight

1st 1965 Heavyweight

3rd 1966 Heavyweight

 

Junior Nationals

1st 1946 Heavyweight

 

World and National Records

Norb set 22 world records and 34 National records

Tamio “Tommy” Kono

6/27/1930-4/24/2016

 

One of the greatest weightlifters of all time, Tommy started lifting in a California internment camp in the 1940’s. Tommy was sickly as a child and required considerable care. However, Tommy used adversity as a motivator and became an 8X World Champion, 2X Olympic Champion, 3X Pan American Champion, and Olympic Silver Medalist and a 12X Senior National Champion. Tommy set 26 official World Records in 4 different weight classes. I recommend reading Tommy Kono The Life of America’s Greatest Weightlifter by Dr. John D. Fair.

 

2^nd 148lb class 1950 Senior Nationals

2^nd 148lb class 1951 Senior Nationals

1^st 148lb class 1952 Senior Nationals

1st 148lb class 1952 Junior Nationals

1^st 148lb class 1952 Olympic Games

1^st 165lb class 1953 Senior Nationals

1^st 165lb class 1953 World Championships

1^st 181lb class 1954 Senior Nationals

1^st 181lb class 194 World Championships

1^st 181lb class 1955 Senior Nationals

1^st 181lb class 1955 World Championships

1st 181lb class 1955 Pan American Games

1^st 181lb class 1956 Olympic Games

1^st 181lb class 1957 Senior Nationals

1^st 165lb class 1957 World Championships

1^st 165lb class 1958 Senior Nationals

1^st 165lb class 1958 World Championships

1^st 165lb class 1959 Senior Nationals

1st 165lb class 1959 Pan American Games

1^st 165lb class 1959 World Championships

1^st 165lb class 1960 Senior Nationals

2^nd 165lb class 1960 Olympic Games

1^st 181lb class 1961 Senior Nationals

3^rd 181lb class 1961 World Championships

1^st 181lb class 1962 Senior Nationals

2^nd 181lb class 1962 World Championships

1^st 181lb class 1963 Senior Nationals

1^st 181lb class 1963 Pan American Games

3^rd 181lb class 1965 Senior Nationals

 

Stanley “Stan” Stanczyk

5/10/25-7/3/1997

 

Stan was born in Wisconsin but grew up in Detroit. Stan started lifting in the late 1930’s and competed from 1942 until 1957. Stan was drafted in 1943 and spent 3 years in the Pacific as a combat marine. Stan is a member of the United States Weightlifting Hall of Fame.

 

International Record

1st 148lb class 1946 World Championships

1st 165b class 1946 North American Championships

1st 165lb class 1947 World Championships

1st 165lb class 1947 North American Championships

1st 181lb class 1948 Olympics

1st 181lb class 1949 World Championships

1st 181lb class 1950 World Championships

1st 181lb class 1951 World Championships

1st 181lb class 1951 Pan American Games

2nd 181lb class 1952 Olympics

3rd 181lb class 1953 world Championships

3rd 165lb class 1954 World Championships

 

Nationals Record

1st 148lb class 1943 Junior Nationals

3rd 148lb class 1943 Senior Nationals

3rd 165lb class 1946 Senior Nationals

1st 165lb class 1947 Senior Nationals

1st 181lb class 1948 Senior Nationals

1st181lb class 1949 Senior Nationals

1st 181lb class 1953 Senior Nationals

2nd 181lb class 1955 Senior Nationals

2nd 198lb class 1956 Senior Nationals

3rd 225lb class 1957 Senior Nationals

 Records

Stan set 8 official world records and 25 national records during his career.

Peter “Pete” George

6/29/1929-7/27/2021

 

Pete started training when he was 11. By age 14 he was Ohio State Champion and Junior National Champion at age 15. Pete was the first teenager of any bodyweight to officially clean and jerk 300lbs when he was 15. At 16 Pete was Senior National Champion and World Champion at age 17. Pete competed in 10 World Championships, 3 Olympic Games and was a World Record Holder. Pete was an Orthodontist, Assistant Professor of Stomatology and an author.

 

Olympic Games

 

2^nd165lb class 1948 Olympics

1^st 165lb class 1952 Olympics

2^nd 165lb class 1956 Olympics

 

World Championships

 

1^st 148lb class 1947

2^nd 165lb class 1949

2^nd 165lb class 1950

1^st 165lb class 1951

1^st 148lb class 1953

1^st 165lb class 1954

1^st 165lb class 1955

 

Senior Nationals

 

1^st 148lb class 1946

1^st 165lb class 1949

1^st 165lb class 1950

1^st 165lb class 1951

1^st 165lb class 1952

2^nd165lb class 1953

1^st 165lb class 1957

 

Pan American Games

 

1^st 165lb class 1951

1^st 165lb class 1955

 

 

North American Championships

 

1^st 148lb class 1947

 

Junior Nationals

 

4^th 132lb class 1944

1^st 148lb class 1945

 

https://startingstrength.com/article/pete_george

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clyde Emrich

4/6/1931-11/10/2021

 

Clyde was born in Chicago and started lifting when he was 15. Clyde competed from 1948 to 1967. Clyde was the first 198lb lifter to Clean and Jerk a World Record 400lbs on March 30, 1957 and broke the World Record again 2 weeks later April 13, 1957 with 409lbs. Clyde was an Olympian 1952, Pan Am Champion 1959, World Championships team member and won 4 Senior National titles. Clyde set 3 national records and was a State and Regional Champion several times. In 1955 Clyde was selected for the American Team for a goodwill tour of the Far East. Clyde became one of the first Strength Coaches in the NFL in 1971 when he joined the Chicago Bears.

 

1st 165lb class 1950 Jr. Nationals

2nd 181lb class 1951 Senior Nationals

1st 181lb class 1952 Senior Nationals

8th 181lb class 1952 Olympic Games (Injured)

1st 181lb class 1953 USA vs Australia International Contest

2nd 198lb class 1954 Senior Nationals

3rd 198lb class 1954 World Championships

2nd 198lb class 1955 Senior Nationals

2nd 198lb class 1955 World Championships

1st 198lb class 1956 Senior Nationals

2nd 198lb class 1956 Olympic Tryouts

1st 198lb class 1957 Senior Nationals

1st 198lb class 1959 Senior Nationals

1st 198lb class 1959 Pan American Games

1st 198lb class 1959 Mid-States AAU Weightlifting Championships

1st 198lb class 1961 31st Central AAU Senior National Weightlifting Championships

1st 198lb class 1963 Central AAU Senior National Weightlifting Championships

3rd 198lb class 1963 Senior Nationals

1st 198lb class 1963 Chicago Senior Outdoor Open Weightlifting Championships

2nd 198lb class 1964 Senior Nationals

1st 198lb class 1966 Illinois Sports Council Olympic Championships

1st 198lb class 1967 Illinois AAU Championships.

 

In 1959 Clyde was selected for the World Championship Team but he could not leave his job for that length of time. In 1953 Clyde could not lift in the Senior’s due to military service. Since Clyde could not lift in the 1953 Senior’s he could not qualify for the 1953 World Championships Team.

 

Clyde is a member of the US Weightlifting Hall of Fame, USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame and the Illinois State Hall of Fame.

 

Richard Tom

11/8/1920-2/20/2007

 

1^st 123lb class 1947 Junior Nationals

2^nd 123lb class 1947 World Championships

2^nd 123lb class 1948 Senior Nationals

3^rd 123lb class 1948 Olympic Games

1^st 1952 Senior Nationals

123lb class 1952 Olympic Games (Alternate)

 

 

Richard Tomita

7/8/1927-2/20/2007

 

3^rd 132lb class 1948 Senor Nationals

8^th 132lb class 1948 Olympic Games

5^th 132lb class 1950 World Championships

1^st 132lb class 1952 Senior Nationals

132lb class 1952 Olympic Games (Alternate)

 

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Fri Jan 17 15:39:01 UTC 2025 | Last Updated: Tue Feb 04 11:52:30 UTC 2025