James Bradford (weightlifter)

James Bradford (born November 1, 1928, in Washington, D.C.; died September 13, 2013, in Bowie, Maryland) was an American heavyweight weightlifter. He competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he won a silver medal, and in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where he again won a silver medal.

Bradford was a dominant figure in American weightlifting during the 1950s and early 1960s. He won the gold medal at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City and the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago. He also won the United States National Weightlifting Championships multiple times.

Known for his powerful physique and technically sound lifting, Bradford set several world records throughout his career. After retiring from competitive weightlifting, he remained involved in the sport as a coach and official.