Sunday, February 15, 2009
Harold SakataYou might recognize him by his most famous movie role as the villain 'Odd Job' in the James Bond movie 'Gold Finger" , but Harold Sakata was also a great Olympic weightlifter, sometimes-bodybuilder and professional wrestler.
Sakata got his start reading Strength and Health Magazine and, as a teenager, won many local lifting contests on his native Hawaii. After a stint in the Army, Sakata had a chance to focus on his training and he set a Hawaiian record in the clean and jerk as well as won the Mr. Hawaii bodybuilding title.
His weightlifting totals were such that he was able to compete in the Senior Nationals, where he finished second to Stan Stanczyk at the 1948 Senior Nationals. His finish at the Nationals qualified him for a spot at the 1948 Summer Olympics where he finished second, winning the Silver Medal, again, to the eventual champion Stanczyk. The two would go on to become lifelong friends.
After his weightlifting career, Sakata traveled the country as the pro-wrestler Tosh Togo.
Labels: 1948 Olympics, Harold Sakata, Mr. Hawaii, olympic weightlifter, Pro Wrestler, Stan Stanczyk, Tosh Togo
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Saturday, January 24, 2009
Stan StanczykThe great Olympic lifter Stan Stanczyk was the first lifter to win three successive World titles in three different weight classes. Lifting for the York Barbell Club, he won five in all. He also won six Senior National titles, a Gold Medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, a Gold at the 1951 Pan-American Games and a Silver Medal at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
Stanczyk set eight word records during his lifting career. He was also a fairly good bodybuilder, placing very respectably in the few contests he entered. Once his competitive weightlifting career ended Stanczyk moved to Miami and opened a bowling alley. He was as meticulous with his bowling as he was with weightlifting, he kept track of every game he ever bowled (lifetime average of 190!)
Labels: 1948 Olympics, olympic weightlifter, Stan Stanczyk, World Champion, York Barbell, York Gang
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Pete GeorgeAkron, Ohio's Pete George on the cover of the March, 1956 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.
Over his career, George won five World Championships (1947, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955) and three Olmpic Medals (Silver: 1948 games London, England; Gold: 1952 Games, Helsinki, Finland; Silver: 1956 games Melbourne, Australia).
He set three world records and his best lifts were as follows:
Press: 122.5 kg Snatch: 127.5 kg Clean and Jerk: 164.5 kg
Labels: 1948 Olympics, 1952 Olympics, 1956 Olympics, Clean and Jerk, Olympic Champion, Olympic Weightlifting, Pete George, Press, Snatch, Strength and Health Magazine, World Champion
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
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