John Davis: An American Weightlifting Legend

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

When I first started competing in Olympic Weightlifting in 1981, I wanted to learn about the sport's history and the men who made it great. I read all the lifting magazines I could find, and one of the first lifters I read about was John Davis. 

Davis’ weightlifting career spanned from 1937 to 1956, and his accomplishments are beyond impressive. Davis was born on Jan 12, 1921, in Smithtown, New York, but grew up in Brooklyn. Davis began competing in 1937 in some local meets. One year later, he shocked the weightlifting world by winning the gold medal at the 1938 World Weightlifting Championships in Vienna, Austria, at just 17 years old in the 82.5 kilo/181.8 lbs weight class. At the time, he was the youngest weightlifter ever to win a world title.....

You can read the full blog post here.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)