Gerson, Samuel

Samuel Norton Gerson

Sport:
wrestling

Country Represented:
United States

Years Competed:
1920

Medals Received:
silver

Olympic Info:
Gerson was a member of the United States wrestling team at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, and won the silver medal in the featherweight class(freestyle). Samuel, a University of Pennsylvania alum was defeated in the gold medal match by Canadian (and Cornellian) Charles Ackerly in the only all-Ivy final in freestyle-wrestling Olympic competition; the two men had split their two previous matches in collegiate competition. Gerson later organized the U.S. Olympians, an alumni association for former members of the U.S. Olympic teams.

Career Highlights:
In his collegiate days Gerson was captain of both U. of P's wrestling and chess teams, and was a two-time EIWA champion - at 115 pounds in 1918 and 125 pounds in 1920. Following his competitive career, Samuel was an engineer for Sun Oil Company and the State of Pennsylvania, but he also organized the Philadelphia Intercollegiate Chess League in 1943 and became the official historian of the U.S. Olympians from 1948-1954. Gerson also organized the Maccabi Athletic Club of Philadelphia and served as chairman of the Middle Atlantic AAU. In February 2001, Gerson was inducted into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. unknown - d. Sept. 1972

Origin:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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