Don Oliver

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use New Zealand English Script error: No such module "infobox".Template:Wikidata imageScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".

Donald Carthew Oliver Script error: No such module "If empty". (16 April 1937 – 26 February 1996) was a New Zealand weightlifter[1] and fitness centre founder. He represented his country at three Olympic Games, and won two Commonwealth medals, including gold in 1966 in Kingston.

Early life and family

Born in the Auckland suburb of Avondale on 16 April 1937, Oliver was educated at Avondale College. On 18 March 1967, he married Maureen Baty, and the couple had three children.[2]

Weightlifting

Oliver won the gold medal at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in the men's heavyweight division. At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he won the silver medal in the same division.[3]

Oliver represented New Zealand at three Olympic Games in the heavyweight division. At the 1960 Summer Olympics, Oliver lifted a combined weight of 425 kg and finished in 13th place. Four years later in Tokyo at the 1964 Summer Olympics he lifted 480 kg and finished in ninth place. In his last Olympics, Oliver recorded his best finish lifting 490 kg and finishing in eighth place at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where he was also the New Zealand team flagbearer at the opening ceremony.[4]

In all, Oliver won 10 New Zealand national weightlifting titles in the heavyweight division, and he was the New Zealand record holder in that division from 1959 to 1968.[2]

At the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, Oliver was the New Zealand weightlifting team coach.[5]

Work and business

Oliver was a butcher by trade. From 1952 to 1973, he worked as a retail butcher, production boner, and plant safety and training officer. He tutored apprentice butchers at the Manukau Technical Institute between 1973 ad 1976.[2]

In 1975, he opened his first gym, the Don Oliver Health Centre, and he went on to own six gyms in Auckland, and start his own brand of fitness equipment.[2][6] He was a personal trainer to several All Blacks, including Michael Jones, Eroni Clarke, Va'aiga Tuigamala and Craig Dowd.[5]

Other activities

Oliver served as chair of the Auckland Asthma Society, and was deacon of Glen Eden Baptist Church.[2]

Honours

In the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours, Oliver was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to weightlifting and the community.[7]

Death

Oliver died of cancer in Auckland on 26 February 1996,[5][8] and he was buried at Waikumete Cemetery.[9]

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. Profile at sports-reference.com Script error: No such module "webarchive".
  2. a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Profile at the New Zealand Olympic Committee websiteScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
  4. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. The Aucklander - Grapple skills turn rivals upside down
  7. Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Awards
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Lonsdale Cup of the New Zealand Olympic Committee
1965 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Script error: No such module "Authority control". Template:1960 New Zealand Olympic team Template:1962 New Zealand British Empire and Commonwealth Games team Template:1964 New Zealand Olympic team Template:1966 New Zealand British Empire and Commonwealth Games team Template:1968 New Zealand Olympic team