Joseph DePietro facts for kids

Joseph DePietro and Bob Kurland on the way to the 1948 Olympics
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	June 10, 1914 Paterson, New Jersey, United States
Died	March 19, 1999 (aged 84) Fair Lawn, New Jersey, United States
Height	1.40 m (4 ft 7 in)
Weight	56 kg (123 lb)
Sport
Sport	Weightlifting
Club	Bates Weightlifting Club
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1948 London -56 kg World Championships Gold 1947 Philadelphia -56 kg Bronze 1949 Scheveningen -56 kg Pan American Games Gold 1951 Buenos Aires -56 kg

Joseph Nicholas DePietro (born June 10, 1914 – died March 19, 1999) was an amazing American weightlifter. He competed in the bantamweight class, which means he weighed around 56 kilograms (about 123 pounds). Joseph DePietro became famous for winning gold medals at major international competitions. He was known for his unique lifting style.

A Champion Weightlifter

Joseph DePietro was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He grew up to become one of the top weightlifters of his time. He trained hard to lift heavy weights. His dedication helped him achieve great success.

Winning Gold Medals

DePietro won many important awards. He earned a gold medal at the 1947 World Weightlifting Championships. This big event took place in Philadelphia. The next year, he competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics. These games were held in London, England. He won another gold medal there for the United States. He also won gold at the 1951 Pan American Games. This competition was in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Setting World Records

Joseph DePietro was not just a champion; he was a record-breaker. He set two world records during his career. Both of these records were in a lift called the "press." In this lift, the weightlifter lifts the bar from their chest to over their head. He set these records in 1947 and 1948.

His Unique Lifting Style

Joseph DePietro had a very special way of lifting weights. He had shorter arms and a compact body. This meant that when he lifted the bar, it barely cleared his head. This unique body type actually helped him in the "press" lift. It gave him an advantage over other lifters. His technique was very efficient for his body.

Images for kids

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  Joseph DePietro and Bob Kurland on their way to the 1948 Olympics.