Don Oliver

Who was Don Oliver?

Donald "Don" Carthew Oliver OBE was a New Zealand weightlifter and fitness centre founder.

He won the gold medal at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in the men's 110 kg division. At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he won the silver medal in the same division.

He represented New Zealand at three Olympic Games in the heavyweight division. Competing at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Games his best result was eighth at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

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

Oliver was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to weightlifting and the community. He owned six gyms in Auckland and started his own brand of fitness equipment. He was a personal trainer to several All Blacks, including Michael Jones, Eroni Clarke, Va'aiga Tuigamala and Craig Dowd.

He died of cancer in Auckland in 1996.