James Bradford

James Edward "Jim" Bradford (November 1, 1928 – September 13, 2013) was an American heavyweight weightlifter. He competed at two Olympics (1952 and 1960) and four world championships (1951, 1954, 1955 and 1959) and won silver medals on all occasions.

Career Bradford won the AAU heavyweight titles in 1960 and 1961. Ten years prior, he won the AAU Junior Championship in 1950. To his own misfortune, Bradford had to compete against the greatest lifters of all time. At the 1951 World Championships, and 1952 Olympics he placed second to John Davis, in 1954 and 1955 he placed second to Norb Schemansky, and Paul Anderson respectively, and at the 1959 World Championships and 1960 Olympics to Yury Vlasov.

The Bradford Special also known as the Bradford press, originally an assistance exercise for clean and press and favorite of Bradford, was named after him.