Berger, David

David Marc Berger

Sport:
weightlifting

Country Represented:
Israel

Years Competed:
1972

Olympic Info:
Berger, an American-born lawyer who received his JD degree from Columbia University, emigrated to Israel because he wanted to compete at the 1972 Munich Games. An outstanding weightlifter in the middle-heavyweight division, Berger never received the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. He, along with 10 other members of the Israeli delegation, were killed by Palestinian terrorists after they were taken hostage on September 5, 1972. He was 26 years old.

Career Highlights:
Born in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, Berger was an outstanding weightlifter in the United States before emigrating to Israel. He was a National youth champion, and then won New York State and regional titles after moving to New York City. After winning the gold medal as a member of the U.S. delegation at the 1969 Maccabiah Games, Berger moved to Israel. While holding dual citizenship, David won the Israeli National middle-heavyweight championship (as a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv), and then won a silver medal at the Asian Games in 1970.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1946 - d. Sept. 5, 1972

Origin:
Cleveland, Ohio

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