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Shot Put World record breaker James E. Fuchs (USA) died on 8 October 2010 aged 82. Born in Chicago, Illinois on 6 December 1927, he was a resident of New York.
A four-time World record breaker in the Shot Put, once in 1949 (17.79m) and thrice in the 1950 seasons (17.82; 17.92; 17.95).
Fuchs’ last World record was set on 22 August 1950 in Eskilstuna, Sweden, with a second round heave of 17.95m, a performance which was to stand for nearly three years. It was a memorable trip to Sweden for Fuchs as only two days earlier in Visby he had set his third World record of 17.90m.
Fuchs was a Shot Put bronze medallist at the 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympics Games, and a gold medallist in the Shot Put and Discus Throw in the first Pan American Games in 1951, where he was selected to carry the American Flag during the opening ceremonies. His win streak of 88 consecutive Shot Put competitions was the best ever at the time.
Fuchs was an inductee in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, the New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame, and was an Olympic Torch bearer for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
A Memorial Service in New York City on Friday 29 October.
IAAF
