Harold Hardwick 5177109 180540383 2007-12-28T02:51:58Z Chanheigeorge 376297 {{MedalTop}} {{MedalSport | Men’s [[Swimming]]}} {{MedalGold| [[1912 Summer Olympics|1912 Stockholm]] | [[Swimming at the 1912 Summer Olympics|4x200 m freestyle relay]]}} {{MedalBronze| [[1912 Summer Olympics|1912 Stockholm]] | [[Swimming at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre freestyle|400 m freestyle]]}} {{MedalBronze| [[1912 Summer Olympics|1912 Stockholm]] | [[Swimming at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's 1500 metre freestyle|1500 m freestyle]]}} {{MedalBottom}} '''Harold Hampton Hardwick''' (born [[December 14]], [[1888]] &ndash; died [[February 22]], [[1959]]) was an [[Australia]]n [[freestyle swimming|freestyle]] swimmer of the 1900s and 1910s, who won gold in the 4x200 m freestyle relay at the [[Swimming at the 1912 Summer Olympics|1912 Summer Olympics]]. He also won bronze medals in the 400 m and 1500 m freestyle and later became a [[colonel]] in the [[Australian Imperial Force]]. He was also a professional heavyweight boxing champion of Australia and represented [[New South Wales]] in [[Rugby Union]]. Born in [[Balmain]], [[Sydney]], Hardwick 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 public schools champion of Sydney. In [[1907]], he 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 Healy]] and [[Frank Beaurepaire]] respectively. In [[1911]], Hardwick won the 220yd, 440yd and 880yd freestyle at the Australasian Championships. At the [[1911]] [[Festival of Empire]] Games in [[London]], a precursor of the [[Commonwealth Games]] to commemorate the coronation of [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]], Hardwick won both the 110yd freestyle and heavyweight boxing. He remained in England for the English Swimming Championships, winning the 100yd, 220yd and 440yd freestyle titles. In [[1912]], he was selected to represent [[Australasia at the Olympics|Australasia]] at the [[1912 Summer Olympics]] (as Australia and [[New Zealand]] sent a combined team), but could not compete in boxing, as it was omitted for the only time in Olympic history. Hardwick was eliminated in the 100 m freestyle semifinals. In the 400 m freestyle, he won his heat and semifinal, and held the lead in the final for a period before being defeated by [[Canada]]'s [[George Hodgson]] the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[Jack Hatfield]], earning a bronze medal. In the 1500 m, Hardwick also won his heat and semifinal, and again contested the lead in the final, before being worn down by Hodgson and Hatfield. He then combined with Healy, [[Leslie Boardman]] and [[Malcolm Champion]] to win the 4x200 m freestyle relay, splitting 2 m 31.2s for the fastest leg of the quartet. After returning to [[Australia]], Hardwick stopped swimming at international level, and diversified his interests, joining the [[Manly, New South Wales|Manly]] Surf Club, in which he participated in winning State Championships, and also represented [[New South Wales]] in [[Rugby Union]]. In [[1915]], he turned professional in boxing, and promptly claimed the national championship. He then joined the [[Australian Imperial Force]], and eventually rose to the rank of colonel. Survived by his wife, he died of a coronary occlusion on February 22, 1959 at [[Rushcutters Bay]], and was buried with Anglican rites in an underground Vault in [[Waverley Cemetery]]. <br> ==References== * [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140438b.htm ADB biography] <br> {{Olympic Champions Swimming 4x200 m Men Freestyle Relay}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hardwick, Harold}} [[Category:1888 births]] [[Category:1950 deaths]] [[Category:Australian boxers]] [[Category:People from Sydney]] [[Category:People from New South Wales]] [[Category:Olympic swimmers of Australasia]] [[Category:Australian freestyle swimmers]] [[Category:Swimmers at the 1912 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Australasia]] [[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Australasia]] [[Category:Sportspeople of multiple sports]] [[Category:Burials at Waverley Cemetery]] [[fi:Harold Hardwick]]