IWF120y/94 – 1964: Isaac Berger (USA), three Olympics, three medals

In the second half of the 1950s and the first years of the 1960s, the United States had in Isaac (‘Ike’) Berger one of its most accomplished and successful lifters. Born in 1936 in Jerusalem, his father was a rabbi and diamond setter, who then moved with the family to New York in 1949. Three years later, at 16, Berger started practicing weightlifting and in 1955 (when he was naturalised American), he won his first US national title. It was the beginning of a prolific career that would include three Olympic participations. The first of these presences – Melbourne 1956 – was the most successful: in Australia, competing in the 60kg category, he clinched gold in 107.5-107.5-137.7-352.5. He would always lift more, both in Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964, but his performances – respectively of 117.5-105-140-362.5 and 122.5-107.5-152.5-382.5 – were only enough for the silver medal. In addition to these three brilliant Olympic medals, Berger got five more at the World Championships (victories in 1958 and 1961, second place in 1959 and 1963, and bronze in 1957). He also has two gold medals from the Pan-American Games (1959 and 1963). A true specialist in the Press movement, he was the first athlete in his category to lift the double of his body weight in this exercise, with a WR of 121.5kg in 1961. He would establish six more global marks during his career, namely four in Clean & Jerk (best of 152.5kg). Two of those World Records were established during the 1957 and 1961 editions of the Maccabiah Games, held in Tel Aviv – for many years, he held the honour of being the first athlete (in any sport) to improve a WR on Israeli soil. After his retirement, he developed a business around weightlifting equipment. ‘Ike’ Berger died in June 2022, some months before completing his 86th birthday.