Johan TORRANCE

Jack Torrance was the world’s best shot putter between the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, but he peaked at the wrong time to win Olympic gold. Although he won the 1936 Olympic Trials he was not at his best in Berlin. Torrance was AAU champion in the shot from 1933-35, NCAA champion in 1933-34, and won the AAU indoors in 1935. In 1934, he broke the world shot put record five times, with his final mark of 17.40 lasting as the record for 14 years.

After the Olympics Torrance started a career as a professional boxer, although that career lasted only about eight months. His professional record was 7 wins and 2 losses, with all 9 bouts ended by knockout. Torrance then worked as a policeman and car salesman, before signing a contract in 1939 with the Chicago Bears of the NFL. Torrance played 15 games in the 1939 and 1940 NFL seasons. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1961.

Personal Bests: SP – 17.40 (57-1) (1934); DT – 48.11 (157-10) (1934).