Peter George, 1955

Although the sport of weightlifting has never achieved varsity status at OSU – students have been able to participate through intramurals and clubs – two former Buckeyes not only made it to the Olympics, but won medals. And they’re brothers, to boot.

James George, 1963

Peter and James George, both students of dentistry at OSU, were also competitive weightlifters. In fact, at the age of 14, Peter had won the U.S. Junior Championship and by 17 he won the World Championship. Entering as a middleweight, Peter won silver at the 1948 London Olympic Games. In 1952 he enrolled at OSU and earned a spot on the U.S. team competing at the Helsinki Olympic Games. There, he won gold. Four years later he won a silver medal at the Melbourne games.

His brother, James, joined Peter in Melbourne, competing in the light heavyweight category. He won a bronze medal. In 1960 James returned to the Olympic Games in Rome and won a silver medal. After returning to the United States, James received his DDS degree in 1963.

Once again, we received much assistance from Rusty Wilson’s “The Ohio State University at the Olympics,” an amazing resource for anyone who wants to know more about the University’s connection to the Olympic Games.