Isaac Berger Obituary

Olympic gold medallist Isaac Berger passed away on June 7, 2022, at the age of 85. It was reported that he died of natural causes. He is survived by his sister, his two brothers, and 13 nieces and nephews.

Isaac Berger, born on November 16, 1936, represented the United States in the Olympics in 1956, 1960, and 1964. Isaac and his family immigrated to America in 1949, and Berger became a citizen six years later, in December 1955.

Isaac received one gold medal and two silver medals. Berger held eight world records (four official and four unofficial) and won the US national championship eight times.

He was the first featherweight in history to lift more than 800 pounds and the first to bench press double his body weight.

With his gold medal victory at the 1957 Maccabiah Games, Isaac became the first athlete to achieve a world record on Israeli soil in any sport. Berger successfully pushed 117 kg (258 lb).

Berger was inducted into the United States Weightlifters Hall of Fame in 1965 and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.