{{Short description|Australian weightlifter (1928–2005)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = Vern Barberis | image = Vern Barberis c1950.jpg | image_size = | caption = Barberis c. 1950 | birth_name = Verdi Barberis | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = Australian | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date|1928|06|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|2005|01|06|1928|06|27|df=yes}} | death_place = Albury, New South Wales, Australia | height = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | weight = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} --> | country = Australia | sport = Weightlifting | event = | collegeteam = | club = | team = | turnedpro = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{flagicon|AUS}} Australia}} {{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games}} {{MedalBronze|1952 Helsinki|Lightweight}} {{MedalCompetition | Commonwealth Games}} {{MedalBronze|1950 Auckland|Lightweight}} {{MedalGold|1954 Vancouver|Lightweight}} | show-medals = yes }}
'''Verdi "Vern" Barberis''' (27 June 1928 – 6 January 2005) was an Australian lightweight weightlifter.
Barberis grew up in Melbourne and attended the University of Melbourne and studied science.<ref name=awf>{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame |url=http://www.awf.com.au/history/HallOfFame.aspx |publisher=Australian Weightlifting Federation |access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://commonwealthgames.com.au/australian-weightlifting-pioneer-vern-barberis/ |title=Australian Weightlifting Pioneer: Vern Barberis |publisher=Commonwealth Games Australia}}</ref> He won a bronze medal at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand, lifting a total of {{convert|730|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. This was the first time that weightlifting had been contested at the Games. He won another bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Australian to win a weightlifting medal at the Olympics. Later at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he became the first Australian to win a weightlifting gold medal at a major international competition. The seven-time national champion rounded out his career at the 1956 Summer Olympics in his home city of Melbourne, where he finished 11th.<ref name=sr>{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Vern Barberis |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ba/vern-barberis-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418074348/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ba/vern-barberis-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |access-date=15 January 2012}}</ref>
Barberis was the first Australian lightweight to clean and jerk over {{convert|300|lb|kg|abbr=on}} which at the time exceeded the Victorian heavyweight record. His Australian records stood for many years and his Victorian snatch record lasted twenty years.<ref name=awf/>
Barberis was a highly respected teacher and trainer. Between 1969 and 1971, he served as President of the Australian Weightlifting Federation. He was later inducted into the AWF Hall of Fame,<ref name=awf/> and on 30 August 2000 awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his weightlifting achievements.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vern Barberis |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/982159 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Vern Barberis}} * {{sports links}} * {{Commonwealth Games Australia|vern-barberis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barberis, Vern}} Category:1928 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Australian male weightlifters Category:Olympic weightlifters for Australia Category:Weightlifters at the 1952 Summer Olympics Category:Weightlifters at the 1956 Summer Olympics Category:Weightlifters at the 1950 British Empire Games Category:Weightlifters at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Australia Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Australia Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal Category:Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics Category:University of Melbourne alumni Category:Olympic medalists in weightlifting Category:Medallists at the 1950 British Empire Games Category:Medallists at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Category:Weightlifters from Melbourne Category:Sportsmen from Victoria (state) Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in weightlifting Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in weightlifting Category:Commonwealth Games weightlifters for Australia