Oliver Lifts National, Empire Records

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30575, 19 October 1964, Page 16

Oliver Lifts National, Empire Records

[From NORMAN HARRIS, "New Zealand Herald" Reporter! TOKYO, October 18. D. C. Oliver, although he had little chance of getting into the top six places, performed to his own satisfaction and the joy of all his supporters when he finished ninth in the heavy-weight weight-lifting contest today.

Oliver, given the competition he had hoped for, won the minor section with a total of 380 kilograms the equivalent of 10561 b, which betters by 211 b his New Zealand and British Empire records. He finished four places ahead of A. Shannos, of Australia, who beat Oliver for the gold medal in the Perth Commonwealth Games.

The second section of the heavy-weight competition, comprising the 10 top lifters on Olympic gradings, was held later in the day. With relaxation of the rule which disallows “back-bend-ing,” Oliver was free to far exceed his best previous lift in the press section. He lifted 3471 b, his best by 171 b, and was secdnd only to a Belgian, S. Reding, who was 221 b better. Strongly Challenged In the next'section Oliver, by equalling bis best snatch of 2901 b, had whittled back a little of Reding’s lead. A couple of smaller, faster men lifted well in the snatch, which requires quick movement, and were challenging in total. But in the last lift, the clean and jerk, Oliver was the dominant figure. He started higher than anyone, at 4011 b, and although he lifted this none too surely, then went much higher to 4191 b.

When he lifted this superbly he had won bis division. Then, chasing a mammoth total which might gain him an extra place in the final assessment, he tried for 4341 b, the biggest attempt of his life. Grim Shuddering He sank low under the weight, and with grim shuddering and shaking gradually rose and hauled it to his neck. It must have almost killed him, because as he paused he had had to shake bis head clear. When he tried to jerk the bar aloft his hands clenched—but nothing else happened. He seemed to have partially blacked out. He put the bar down and walked away, well satisfied The gold medal was won by the Russian, L. Zhabotinsky, with a total lift of 1261.261 b. Another Russian, the winner at Rome, Y. Vlasov, was second, and N. Schemansky (United States) was third.