About Graham May
Lived 1952 – 2006 (aged 53–54). Graham May was a New Zealand weightlifter.
Graham John May (1952 – 23 December 2006) was a weightlifting competitor for New Zealand.
He won the gold medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in the men's 110 kg division. He is widely known for falling on his face during a lift prior to his gold medal-winning effort. During the failed lift he fell forward with the weights rolling off the platform and into the judges area. The footage of his fall was part of the introduction to the Wide World of Sports for 20 years and is seen as iconic footage of New Zealand sport.
After a short career he stopped weightlifting in 1975 and followed Christianity. In a TV documentary in 1989, he admitted to taking performance enhancing steroids in the years leading up to his gold medal performance, although they were not illegal at the time. He offered to hand back his medal but it was declined.
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Important facts
People in Graham May's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Graham May's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Graham May?
New Zealand weightlifter (1952–2006)
When was Graham May born?
Graham May was born in 1952.
When did Graham May die?
Graham May died on 23 December 2006.
What was Graham May's occupation?
Graham May was a weightlifter.
What nationality was Graham May?
Graham May was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Graham May. https://biography.guide/graham-may/
MLA: "Graham May." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/graham-may/.
Chicago: "Graham May." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/graham-may/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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