Josef Straßberger

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJosef•Straßberger
Used nameJosef•Straßberger
Born20 August 1894 in Kolbermoor, Bayern (GER)
Died10 October 1950 in Kolbermoor, Bayern (GER)
AffiliationsTSV 1860 München, München (GER)
NOC Germany
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 2

Biography

Josef Straßberger won two Olympic medals, a gold in 1928 in Amsterdam and bronze in 1932 in Los Angeles, both as a heavyweight, and was also World Champion in 1920. He set 10 world records in light-heavyweight and super-heavyweight from 1919-35 – six in the press, two in the snatch, and two in the total. He was European champion in 1921 and 1929. From 1920-34 Straßberger dominated the heavyweight division in Germany, winning 13 national titles.

Since he had lost the distal tips of the index and middle fingers of his right hand in an accident, Straßberger had difficulty getting a tight grip on the barbell to master the heavy loads of the clean & jerk. Therefore, he always had to compensate for his modest performances in that lift by better performances in his strongest discipline, the military press. In 1929, he took over the clubhouse of the TSV 1860 München as an innkeeper, but it was totally bombed out in 1945. After World War II, he led the Sports School Grünwald near Munich. At the 1972 Olympic Village in München, one of the streets was named in his honor.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Weightlifting GER Josef Straßberger
Heavyweight, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1932 Summer Olympics Weightlifting GER Josef Straßberger
Heavyweight, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze