PersonJewish Eligibility — Verified by JWR

Samuel “Sam” Berger

American Jewish heavyweight boxer who won the inaugural Olympic heavyweight boxing title at St. Louis 1904.

United States

George Grantham Bain / Library of Congress / Wikimedia CommonsSourcePublic Domain

Biography

American Jewish heavyweight boxer who won the inaugural Olympic heavyweight boxing title at St. In Jewish World Records, Samuel “Sam” Berger is connected to the record “First Jewish Olympic Champion in Boxing,” based on the stored achievement of Gold — men’s heavyweight boxing, 22 September 1904. Boxing made its Olympic debut at St. Sam Berger won the heavyweight final on 22 September 1904, and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame lists him among Jewish Olympic gold medalists. Olympedia records Sam Berger as the 1904 Olympic heavyweight boxing champion and gives the final date as 22 September 1904. Boxing first entered the Olympic program in 1904, so Berger's gold occurred in the sport's inaugural Olympic tournament; the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame identifies Berger as a Jewish Olympic boxing champion.

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Records held by Samuel “Sam” Berger

Portrait of Jewish American Olympic boxing champion Samuel Berger.

JWR Verified

Sports · Olympic GamesFirst

First Jewish Olympic Champion in Boxing

Record holder

Samuel “Sam” Berger

Record value

Gold

At the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, boxing appeared on the Olympic program for the first time. Among the competitors was Samuel “Sam” Berger, an American Jewish amateur boxer representing the Olympic Club of San Francisco. Competing in the heavyweight division, Berger entered a small but historic tournament held at Washington University's Physical Culture Gymnasium. On 21 September, he defeated Bill Michaels by knockout in the third round. The following day, 22 September 1904, he faced Charles Mayer, who had also won the middleweight title. Berger won the final by decision and claimed the Olympic heavyweight gold medal. The judges' decision was controversial among spectators, but the official result established Berger as the inaugural Olympic heavyweight boxing champion. Because boxing had not been contested at earlier modern Olympic Games, his victory also made him the first Jewish Olympic champion in the sport. The achievement links the beginnings of Olympic boxing with the history of Jewish athletes at the Games.

Country represented: United States
Achievement location: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Achievement date: 22 September 1904

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