Oliver Kirk

Oliver Kirk
Personal information
BornApril 20, 1884
Beatrice, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 1960 (age 75)
St. Louis, U.S.
Medal record
Men's boxing
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1904 St. Louis Bantamweight
Gold medal – first place 1904 St. Louis Featherweight

Oliver Leonard Kirk (April 20, 1884 – March 14, 1960) was an American bantamweight and featherweight professional boxer who won two gold medals in Boxing at the 1904 Summer Olympics. He was born in Beatrice, Nebraska and died in St. Louis, Missouri.[1]

Kirk is the only boxer in Olympic history to ever win two gold medals in two separate weight divisions at the same Olympics.[2] He won gold in the featherweight and lost almost 10 pounds in under two weeks and also won gold in the bantamweight category. Kirk only had to win two fights to capture his two gold medals, in the bantamweight class only two boxers competed. In the featherweight class there were three boxers with Kirk earning the bye in the first round.

References

  1. ^ "Oliver Kirk". Olympedia. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ^ Wallechinsky, David (1984). The Complete Book of the Olympics. England: Penguin Books. p. 170. ISBN 0140066322.