Frank Spellman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Frank Spellman

Personal information
Born	September 17, 1922 Malvern, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 12, 2017 (aged 94)
Sport
Sport	Weightlifting
Club	York Barbell Club
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1948 London -75 kg World Championships Bronze 1946 Paris -75 kg Silver 1947 Philadelphia -75 kg Maccabiah Games Gold 1950 Israel middleweight

Frank Isaac Spellman (born September 17, 1922 – died January 12, 2017) was an amazing American weightlifter. He was an Olympic champion in the middleweight category.

Frank won a gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. He also earned a bronze medal and a silver medal at the World Championships in 1946 and 1947. In 1950, he won another gold medal at the 1950 Maccabiah Games.

In the United States, Spellman won the national titles from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in 1946 and 1948. He even returned to compete in 1961 and won another AAU title that year!

Frank Spellman's Early Life

Frank Spellman was born in Malvern, Pennsylvania. His mother, Sara, was from Austria and worked as a seamstress. His father, David, was from Germany and was a stone quarry foreman. Frank was Jewish and had four brothers and sisters.

From age seven to seventeen, Frank lived in a home for Jewish orphans in Philadelphia. After that, he lived in South Philadelphia.

In 1942, Frank joined the United States Army. He served for three years during World War II. In 1944, he bravely fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, he lived in York, Pennsylvania. He worked as a machinist for a company called York Barbell. He also represented their weightlifting team. Later, in 1952, he moved to Santa Monica, California. He lived there for 18 years before moving to Florida.

Besides weightlifting, Frank Spellman was also a professional photographer. He spent his later years living in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Frank Spellman passed away on January 12, 2017, when he was 94 years old. He had two brothers, Charlie and Harold, and two sisters, Ethyl and Frances. He also had six children: Danny, Kevin, Katie, Yvonne, Larry, and Steve.

Frank Spellman's Weightlifting Journey

Frank Spellman started his weightlifting career early. In 1942, he won the US middleweight junior title. This was a great start to his journey.

Winning Medals and Setting Records

In 1946, Frank won a bronze medal at the 1946 World Weightlifting Championships. That same year, he set a new US middleweight record. He lifted 257.75 pounds in the press. He also won the US Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) middleweight championship.

He continued his success in 1947. Frank won a silver medal at the 1947 World Weightlifting Championships. He also earned a silver medal at the US championships that year.

Olympic Gold Medalist

The biggest moment came in 1948 at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Frank Spellman was 25 years old. He won a gold medal in the Men's 75 kg Weightlifting event. During this competition, he set new Olympic middleweight records. He lifted 336.25 pounds in the clean & jerk. His total lift was an amazing 859.5 pounds. That year, he also set a new US middleweight record with a press of 260 pounds. He won the US AAU middleweight championship again.

Later Achievements

In 1949, Spellman won the North American middleweight title. He also finished second in the United States championships.

Frank competed in the 1950 Maccabiah Games in Israel. He won a gold medal in the middleweight category. He also set a new American middleweight record with a press of 261.75 pounds.

In 1951, he finished third in the US championships. The next year, 1952, he finished second at lightweight in the US championships.

In 1954, Frank set a new world record. He lifted 510 pounds in a squat during the American squat championships. At that time, he weighed 170 pounds. He also finished second in the light-heavyweight category at the American championships.

Frank Spellman even returned to competing in 1971. He was 49 years old! He won his third national AAU middleweight title that year.

Halls of Fame Honors

Frank Spellman's amazing career led to many honors. He was chosen for several Halls of Fame.

He was elected to the United States Weightlifting Hall of Fame. He also joined the Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame. The Porterville Quarterback Hall of Fame also recognized him.

In 1983, Frank was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Later, in 1990, he joined the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In 2003/2004, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Finally, in 2011, he was inducted into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame.

See also

• List of select Jewish weightlifters