TRIBUTE TO D. OLIVER

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29994, 1 December 1962, Page 14

TRIBUTE TO D. OLIVER

“The Finest Sportsman” •‘The Press" Special Service PERTH. November 30. “The finest sportsman I have ever competed against” was how A. Shannos. the Australian who won the heavy-weight weight-lifting contest described the silver medallist. D. C. Oliver, of New Zealand. Before a packed and hushed croud in the South Perth Civic Centre, Oliver, a 25-year-old Bible class teacher, proved himself a great competitor as well as a sportsman.

Of the total nine lifts he made in the three sections he succeeded with every lift he nominated. He lifted a total of 10251 b which broke his New Zealand record by 101 b. When his last mighty clean and jerk of 4101 b was achieved he might well have been confident that this would be sufficient. Shannos. 51b behind after the first two sections, needed to lift 4151 b on his final clean and jerk. This would equal Oliver’s total but would give him victory because his body weight was a stone less than Oliver’s.

Shannos struggled and shuddered to bring the bar up to his neck but then after a pause he thrust it aloft magnificently. As he returned it to the floor and threw his arms triumphantly in the air, Oliver, who was watching from close at hand, threw his arms in the air also.

While the cheering was still at a crescendo he strode across the stage and clasped Shannos by the hand. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to win,” said Oliver afterwards. “When Arthur was bringing the bar up no-one was hoping more than me for it to fall back but then I was pleased because he’s a great competitor and a great man.”