James Tooley

Derby-based weightlifter James Tooley was born in India, where his father served in the British Army. Tooley Jr. went on to appear at two Olympic Games, and both times got his selection following impressive displays in Olympic trials. In 1924 he finished second to William Wyatt in the lightweight class in the trial at Holborn and got the call up to attend the Paris Games, where he went on to set two Olympic records. Four years later, Tooley broke the British middleweight two-handed snatch record with 91kg (200lb) in the Olympic trial to get his place on the team for Amsterdam. Tooley, who won British titles in 1927 (light-heavyweight) and 1929 (middleweight), later became an MC and referee at local weightlifting events in the Derby area. After his competitive weightlifting days Tooley concentrated on his athletics career as a sprinter and was still running for the Derby and County club at the age of 34.