Harold Hardwick

Harold Hampton Hardwick (14 December 1888 – 22 February 1959) was a versatile Australian sports star of the early 20th century - an Olympic gold-medal swimmer, national heavyweight boxing champion and a state representative rugby union player. He later became a colonel in the Australian Imperial Force. Hardwick won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1912 Summer Olympics and won bronze medals in the 400m and 1500m freestyle. Born in Balmain... more

Harold Hampton Hardwick (14 December 1888 – 22 February 1959) was a versatile Australian sports star of the early 20th century - an Olympic gold-medal swimmer, national heavyweight boxing champion and a state representative rugby union player. He later became a colonel in the Australian Imperial Force. Hardwick won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1912 Summer Olympics and won bronze medals in the 400m and 1500m freestyle. Born in Balmain, Sydney, to George Henry Hardwick and his wife Priscilla, Harold began swimming at an early age, and at 11 was winning races. At the age of 16, while attending Fort Street High School, he became the Public Schools' swimming champion of Sydney. He played rugby in the school's first XV and captained its lifesaving team. In 1907, embracing the newly popular Australian crawl stroke Harwick won the New South Wales 100yd championships in 61.6s. In 1909, he came second at the Australasian Championships in the 100yd and 880yd events, behind Cecil... less