David Berger (weightlifter) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Berger
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | May 24, 1944 |
| Died | September 6, 1972 (aged 28) |
| Cause of death | Terrorist attack |
| Resting place | Mayfield Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio |
| Monuments | David Berger Memorial, Cleveland, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American, Israeli |
| Alma mater | Tulane University (BA) Columbia University (MBA, JD) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Weightlifter |
| Parents |
|
David Mark Berger (born May 24, 1944 – died September 6, 1972) was an American and Israeli Olympic weightlifter. He was one of the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were taken hostage and killed. This happened during the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. A group called Black September was responsible.
Berger was born and grew up in the United States. He studied to become a lawyer. After winning a gold medal at the 1969 Maccabiah Games, he moved to Israel.
Contents
David Berger's Early Life and Sports Career
David Mark Berger was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 24, 1944. His mother was Dorothy Berger, and his father was Benjamin Berger. His father was a well-known doctor.
David was a great student and athlete in high school. He graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1962. From 1962 to 1966, he went to Tulane University in New Orleans. He was an honors student there.
While at Tulane, he kept training in weightlifting. He trained at the New Orleans Athletic Club. In his third year at Tulane, he won the NCAA weightlifting title. He competed in the 148-pound weight class.
Berger earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Tulane in 1966. He then went to Columbia University in New York. There, he studied for both an MBA (Master of Business Administration) and a law degree. He finished these degrees in 1969.
Even while studying, Berger continued to focus on weightlifting. He trained at the McBurney YMCA in Midtown Manhattan. He competed in the middleweight division. In 1968, he placed fourth in the U.S. Olympic trials. His father once said, "You may not be the best weightlifter in the world, but you’re certainly the smartest!"
After winning a gold medal in weightlifting at the 1969 Maccabiah Games, Berger moved to Israel. He planned to open a law office in Tel Aviv. First, he had to complete his military service.
Berger kept competing in weightlifting. He moved up to the light-heavy weight class. He won a silver medal at the 1971 Asian Weightlifting Championships. He achieved a big dream when he was chosen to represent Israel. He became a member of the 1972 Israeli Olympic team.
In late August 1972, Berger flew to Munich with his teammates. On September 2, 1972, Berger competed. However, he was eliminated in an early round.
The Munich Massacre: A Tragic Event
Early on September 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists entered the Olympic Village. They took Berger and five of his roommates hostage. They had already captured six officials in another apartment. They also injured wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg.
As the athletes were being moved, Weinberg fought back. This allowed wrestler Gad Tsobari to escape. Sadly, Weinberg was shot and killed. When the remaining hostages and terrorists entered the officials’ apartment, weightlifter Yossef Romano also tried to fight. Romano was shot. Berger was shot in his left shoulder. German officials saw this wound later that day. It is believed Berger, being one of the largest hostages, was also beaten. This was done to scare the other hostages.
After many hours of talks, the terrorists and hostages were moved. They went from the Olympic Village to Fürstenfeldbruck airbase by helicopter. The terrorists thought they would fly to a friendly Arab country. Instead, German police tried to rescue the hostages.
A two-hour gunfight followed. One terrorist fired into the helicopter where Berger was sitting. The other three hostages in that helicopter died instantly. Berger received two wounds in his legs, which were not deadly. However, the terrorist then threw a hand grenade inside the helicopter. This caused a huge explosion and fire. An autopsy showed that Berger died from smoke inhalation. The five hostages in the other helicopter were all shot and killed by another terrorist.
The bodies of the other 10 Israeli Olympians were flown to Israel for burial. David Berger's body was returned to the United States. President Richard Nixon personally ordered an Air Force jet for this. Berger is buried at the Mayfield Cemetery in his hometown of Cleveland.
Memorials Honoring David Berger
Many places and events honor David Berger's memory:
- The David Berger National Memorial in Beachwood, Ohio, remembers Berger and his teammates.
- In 2002, New Orleans renamed "Avenger Field" in Audubon Park. It is now called "David Berger - Avenger Field." This honors Berger and other victims of terrorism.
- Berger and the other ten members of the 1972 Israeli Olympic team were honored. They were inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
- The weight room at Shaker Heights High School is named after Berger.
- The David Berger Memorial Weightlifting Tournament is held every year. It takes place at the Lost Battalion Hall in Rego Park, Queens, New York.
- David Berger AZA #1823 is a BBYO chapter in Cleveland, Ohio, named for him.
- David Berger AZA #2059 is a BBYO chapter named for him in Dallas, Texas.
- There is a street named David Berger in Ashkelon, Israel.
- A mural of David Berger is at Shaker Heights High School.
See also
- List of select Jewish weightlifters
