@wrestlingnewsco: Wrestling and weightlifting legend Ken Patera, 83, is recovering after a serious injury. According to a message shared by a close friend on Facebook, Patera suffered a fall at the gym that resulted in a broken C1 vertebra. He had undergone back surgery about two and a half years ago and had been making strong progress, returning to the gym and losing a significant amount of weight. Before wrestling, Patera was one of the most decorated strength athletes in the country. He won four straight U.S. Weightlifting Championships, took gold at the 1971 Pan American Games, earned silver at the 1971 World Championships, and competed at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He became the first American to clean and jerk 500 pounds and finished third in the first World’s Strongest Man contest in 1977. In the ring, Patera was a top heel and former WWF Intercontinental Champion who, in 1980, held that title and the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship at the same time. He was also a two-time AWA World Tag Team Champion and a two-time Most Hated Wrestler of the Year. The wrestling community has been sending its support during his recovery. #KenPatera #ProWrestling #WWF #Weightlifting #WrestlingCommunity

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Tuesday 30 June 2026 17:16:23 GMT