1956 USA Olympic Team
Strength and Power Hall Of Fame
2024
1956 Olympic Team
The 1956 Olympics were held in Melbourne Australia from 11/22-12/8/1956.Weightlifting consisted of 7 weight classes 56kg, 60kg, 67.5kg, 75kg, 82.5kg, 90kg and +90kg. The competition for all weight classes was held on 11/23-26/1956 at the Royal Exhibition Hall. John Terpak was Team Trainer and Assistant Team Coach. Bob Hoffman was Team Coach.
The Athletes
David “Dave”Sheppard
12/12/1931-11/5/2000
Dave started lifting in the late 1940’s and entered his first contest in New York in 1947. Dave was mostly self-taught and learned to lift by observing the champions of his day. Dave eventually joined the Maspeth Weightlifting Club and received some coaching from Mike Mungioli former national champion. Dave used both the split and squat styles and excelled at both. Dave’s final contest was the 1971 New York State Championships where he placed 3rd in the 110kg class.
2nd 198lb class 1956 Olympic Games
2nd 165lb class 1951 World Championships
2nd 165lb class 1953 World Championships
2nd 198lb class 1954 World Championships
2nd 198lb class 1958 World Championships
1st 198lb class 1955 Pan American Games
4th 148lb class 1949 Senior Nationals
3rd 148lb class 1950 Senior Nationals
2nd 165lb class 1951 Senior Nationals
2nd 181lb class 1952 Senior Nationals
2nd 181lb class 1953 Senior Nationals
1st 198lb class 1954 senior Nationals
1st 198lb class 1955 Senior Nationals
3rd 181lb class 1957 Senior Nationals
1st 225lb class 1958 Senior Nationals
2nd 148lb class 1949 North American Championships
1st 181lb class 1950 North American Championships
1st 181lb class 1953 National YMCA Championships
1st 198lb class 1955 National YMCA Championships
2nd 148lb class 1949 Junior Nationals
1st 148lb class 1950 Junior Nationals
Dave set 1 official World Record and 6 World Records that were never submitted by AAU officials. Dave set 12 National Records.
Isaac Berger
11/16/1936-6/4/2022
Isaac was born in Israel and immigrated to the United States in 1950. Isaac started training at Hy Shaffers Brooklyn Adonis Club about 1952. Isaac improved quickly and was soon representing the United States in International competition. Isaac won his Olympic gold Medal in 1956 while still a teen-ager. Isaac could squat over 227.5kgs and could front squat 185kgs. Isaac represented the York Barbell Club and occasionally worked for York Barbell in York and in California.
Olympic Games
1st 132lb class 1956
2nd 132lb class 1960
2nd 132lb class 1964
World Championships
3rd 132lb class 1957
1st 132lb class 1958
2nd 132lb class 1959
1st 132lb class 1961
2nd 132lb class 1963
Pan American Games
1st 132lb class 1959
1st 132lb class 1963
Senior Nationals
1st 132lb class 1955
1st 132lb class 1956
1st 132lb class 1957
1st 132lb class 1958
1st 132lb class 1959
1st 132lb class 1960
1st 132lb class 1961
1st 132lb class 1964
World Records
Isaac set 8 World Records
Charles “Chuck” Vinci
2/28/1933-6/13/2018
Chuck was from Elyria Ohio and lifted at times for the York Barbell club. Chuck is the best 123lb lifter to represent the United States in international competition. Chuck won the 1956 and 1960 Olympics in the 123lb class. His 1960 Gold Medal is the last Gold Medal won by an American male lifer.
Olympic Games
1st 123lb class 1956
1st 123lb class 1960
World Championships
2nd 123lb class 1955
2nd 123lb class 1958
Pan American Games
1st 123lb class 1955
1st 123lb class 1959
Senior Nationals
1st 123lb class 1954
1st 123lb class 1955
1st 123lb class 1956
1st 123lb class 1958
1st 123lb class 1959
1st 123lb class 1960
1st 123lb class 1961
World Records
12 World 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.
2nd 148lb class 1950 Senior Nationals
2nd 148lb class 1951 Senior Nationals
1st 148lb class 1952 Senior Nationals
1st 148lb class 1952 Junior Nationals
1st 148lb class 1952 Olympic Games
1st 165lb class 1953 Senior Nationals
1st 165lb class 1953 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1954 Senior Nationals
1st 181lb class 194 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1955 Senior Nationals
1st 181lb class 1955 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1955 Pan American Games
1st 181lb class 1956 Olympic Games
1st 181lb class 1957 Senior Nationals
1st 165lb class 1957 World Championships
1st 165lb class 1958 Senior Nationals
1st 165lb class 1958 World Championships
1st 165lb class 1959 Senior Nationals
1st 165lb class 1959 Pan American Games
1st 165lb class 1959 World Championships
1st 165lb class 1960 Senior Nationals
2nd 165lb class 1960 Olympic Games
1st 181lb class 1961 Senior Nationals
3rd 181lb class 1961 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1962 Senior Nationals
2nd 181lb class 1962 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1963 Senior Nationals
1st 181lb class 1963 Pan American Games
3rd 181lb class 1965 Senior Nationals
Dr. James “Jim” George
Jim started lifting in the late 1940’s and joined the American College of Modern Weightlifting Club. Jim would also represent the York Barbell Club later in his career. Jim is a 2X Olympian, a Pan American Games Champion, lifted in 4 World Championships and is a 4X Senior National Champion. Jim set World Records in the snatch and clean and jerk during his career. Jim had a long career as a Dentist and is the younger brother of Dr. Peter George. Jim is a member of the US Weightlifting Hall of Fame.
1st 181lb class 1954 Jr. Nationals
3rd 181lb class 1955 Senior Nationals
3rd 181lb class 1955 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1956 Senior Nationals
3rd 181lb class 1956 Olympic Games
2nd 181lb class 1957 World Championships
2nd 181lb class 1957 Senior Nationals
1st 181lb class 1958 Senior Nationals
2nd 181lb class 1958 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1959 Senior Nationals
1st 181lb class 1959 Pan American Games
3rd 181lb class 1959 World Championships
1st 181lb class 1960 Senior Nationals
2nd 181lb class 1960 Olympic Games
2nd 198lb class 1961 Senior Nationals
Dr. 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
2nd165lb class 1948 Olympics
1st 165lb class 1952 Olympics
2nd 165lb class 1956 Olympics
World Championships
1st 148lb class 1947
2nd 165lb class 1949
2nd 165lb class 1950
1st 165lb class 1951
1st 148lb class 1953
1st 165lb class 1954
1st 165lb class 1955
Senior Nationals
1st 148lb class 1946
1st 165lb class 1949
1st 165lb class 1950
1st 165lb class 1951
1st 165lb class 1952
2nd165lb class 1953
1st 165lb class 1957
Pan American Games
1st 165lb class 1951
1st 165lb class 1955
North American Championships
1st 148lb class 1947
Junior Nationals
4th 132lb class 1944
1st 148lb class 1945
Paul Anderson
10/17/1932-8/15/1994
Paul started lifting in the late 1940’s and excelled at the Olympic and power lifts. One of the strongest men who ever lived Paul became a World and Olympic Champion. Paul’s strength is legendary and requires a book to describe his impact on the world of strength and power. I recommend Paul Anderson The Mightiest Minister by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. Paul decided to pursue a career as a professional athlete after the 1956 Olympics.
1st Heavyweight 1956 Olympic Games
1st Heavyweight 1956 Senior Nationals
1st Heavyweight 1955 Senior Nationals
1st Heavyweight 1955 World Championships
1st Heavyweight 1955 USA vs USSR*
1st Heavyweight 1955 USA vs USSR*
1st Heavyweight 1955 USA vs USSR*
1st Heavyweight 1955 USA vs USSR*
1st Heavyweight 1954 Junior Nationals
2nd Heavyweight 1953 Junior Nationals
Paul set 3 official world records and 3 unofficial world records during his brief Olympic lifting career. He set countless unofficial world records in the power lifts.
*These contests were arranged by the US State Department as a goodwill gesture and were held a week apart.
Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Fri Jan 17 15:50:35 UTC 2025 | Last Updated: Tue Feb 04 11:55:04 UTC 2025