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Profile - Nigel Barker
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Nigel Barker was the most successful Australian to compete at the 'intercalated' Olympic Games of Athens in 1906, winning two bronze medals at 100m and 400m. He also starred in Rugby Union for NSW and Australia. In 1903, he scored the only Australian try in the test against New Zealand. |
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In late 1904, Barker won a sprint treble at the Australasian Championships (100y, 220y, 440y) and took out the Long Jump title to boot. His 220y time equalled Stan Rowley's Australian Record, while his 440y time of 48.5 cut 0.3 from the World Record of Tom Burke (USA). Barker had been selected in the Olympic Team for St. Louis in 1904, but an injury during a Rugby Union match kept him from competing (he played on the wing for NSW and Australia, when available). Barker was incredibly popular in Australia and fund-raising efforts to send him to the Athens Games exceeded the amount required. The surplus assisted to send a swimmer (who also won a bronze medal) to Athens. The Sydney athlete found he - and the other Australian Olympians - were also popular in Greece. He wrote to a Sydney newspaper 'The Americans are not popular here from all accounts, and the people of Athens seemed pleased at the prospect of having Australians across with a chance to beat them. E.H. Flack must have produced quite an impression - and it is lasting too'. Despite the support of the Greek crowd, Barker could not overcome the American Paul Pilgrim in the 400m. The winning time was only 53.2, much slower than Barker's best time, but he was unfortunate to suffer interference in the final straight of the event and had to settle for third place. Barker continued to compete in athletics and won Australasian titles again, in 1909. In his career, he won a total of ten Australasian Championships.
More about Nigel Barker - COMING SOON!!
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