Post by Tim Wescott on Mar 12, 2006 10:29:43 GMT -5
His Story
Precious was born in 1936 in Durban (South Africa), the second youngest in a family of five. His father was killed hunting crocodiles shortly after he was born. Precious was a weak child, suffering many serious illnesses during his childhood.
His mother was unable to cope, and Precious and his younger sister, Gloria, were put in welfare 'care' of a number of foster parents, several of whom treated them cruelly. He wanted to become a circus acrobat, and while training for his act, he developed a love of weightlifting.
He progressed rapidly and became recognized as the best lifter in his weight class in the Republic. But, due to apartheid, he could not represent South Africa, so he shifted to England.
He worked in a shoe factory in Northampton, applying later for citizenship. Due to his particular circumstances, this was not forthcoming, but then, on the eve of going to Canada, Dennis Howell who was then the Minister of Sport (and who wrote the foreword to "The Precious McKenzie Story" - written by Marion Connock - published by Pelham Books), intervened and Precious was granted British Citizenship.
He then moved to Bristol, and graduated in Phys Ed from Bisham Abbey Academy, later emigrating to NZ. He won his third Gold Medal at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games, and his fourth consecutive Gold Medal in Edmonton, Canada.
Also in 1974 he featured on Thames Television's "This is your Life" show with Amon Andrews. The same year Queen Elizabeth personally awarded him the MBE for his services to international weight lifting.
Olympic & Power Lifting Achievements:
9 times British Weight Lifting Champion
10 times British Power Lifting Champion
5 times World Power Lifting Champion
8 World Masters Power Lifting Records
1999- 2002
4 consecutive Gold Medals at the
Commonwealth Games
Represented Britain in 3 Olympic Games:
Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976
He also competed in some bodybuilding competitions.
Current World Masters Power Lifting
Champion
Elected to the World Hall of Fame for Power
Lifting - Texas, USA
Presented with an MBE by Queen Elizabeth III
Precious was born in 1936 in Durban (South Africa), the second youngest in a family of five. His father was killed hunting crocodiles shortly after he was born. Precious was a weak child, suffering many serious illnesses during his childhood.
His mother was unable to cope, and Precious and his younger sister, Gloria, were put in welfare 'care' of a number of foster parents, several of whom treated them cruelly. He wanted to become a circus acrobat, and while training for his act, he developed a love of weightlifting.
He progressed rapidly and became recognized as the best lifter in his weight class in the Republic. But, due to apartheid, he could not represent South Africa, so he shifted to England.
He worked in a shoe factory in Northampton, applying later for citizenship. Due to his particular circumstances, this was not forthcoming, but then, on the eve of going to Canada, Dennis Howell who was then the Minister of Sport (and who wrote the foreword to "The Precious McKenzie Story" - written by Marion Connock - published by Pelham Books), intervened and Precious was granted British Citizenship.
He then moved to Bristol, and graduated in Phys Ed from Bisham Abbey Academy, later emigrating to NZ. He won his third Gold Medal at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games, and his fourth consecutive Gold Medal in Edmonton, Canada.
Also in 1974 he featured on Thames Television's "This is your Life" show with Amon Andrews. The same year Queen Elizabeth personally awarded him the MBE for his services to international weight lifting.
Olympic & Power Lifting Achievements:
9 times British Weight Lifting Champion
10 times British Power Lifting Champion
5 times World Power Lifting Champion
8 World Masters Power Lifting Records
1999- 2002
4 consecutive Gold Medals at the
Commonwealth Games
Represented Britain in 3 Olympic Games:
Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976
He also competed in some bodybuilding competitions.
Current World Masters Power Lifting
Champion
Elected to the World Hall of Fame for Power
Lifting - Texas, USA
Presented with an MBE by Queen Elizabeth III
