Podcasts History Witness History: Archive 2011 Precious McKenzie - South African Weight-lifter

Precious McKenzie - South African Weight-lifter

Published: Nov. 19, 2011, 9 a.m.

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The diminutive weight-lifter, Precious McKenzie, was a prodigious talent, but apartheid prevented him from competing for South Africa.

Precious had to move to Britain and work in a factory in Northampton.

While doing so, he finally achieved international success at the 1966 Commonwealth Games.

Precious went on to become a familiar figure on British TV in the 1970s.

Emily Williams talks to him for Sporting Witness.

PHOTO: Precious McKenzie shows off his medal collection (Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

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