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 was on the winning team of the 4x200-metre freestyle relay at the 1912 Summer Olympics and won bronze medals in the 400-metre and 1500-metre freestyle.[1]
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.
Swimming career
In 1907, embracing the newly popular Australian crawl stroke Hardwick won the New South Wales 100-yard championships in 61.6 seconds. In 1909, he came second at the Australasian Championships in the 100-yard and 880-yard events, behind Cecil Healy and Frank Beaurepaire respectively. In 1911, Hardwick won the 220-yard, 440-yard and 880-yard 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, Hardwick won both the 110yd freestyle and heavyweight boxing title. He remained in England for the English Swimming Championships, winning the 100-yard, 220-yard and 440-yard freestyle titles. In 1912, he was selected to represent the Australasia combined team of Australians and New Zealanders at the 1912 Summer Olympics, but could not compete in boxing, as it was omitted for the only time in Olympic history.
Hardwick was eliminated in the 100-metre freestyle semifinals. In the 400-metre 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-metre, 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-metre freestyle relay, splitting 2m 31.2s for the fastest leg of the quartet.
Rugby & boxing
After returning to Australia, Hardwick stopped swimming at international level, and diversified his interests, joining the Manly Surf Club, in which he participated in winning State Championships. He played first grade rugby union for Sydney's Eastern Suburbs RUFC, winning a premiership with the club in 1913. In 1910 he had been selected for New South Wales to represent against a visiting American universities team.
In 1914 he won New South Wales' State amateur heavyweight boxing championship and in 1915, he turned professional in boxing signing to appear for the promoter Snowy Baker. That year he promptly claimed the national championship. In his final professional bout in 1916 he was knocked out by Les Darcy. Earlier in that bout Hardwick broke both of Darcy's front teeth, and the hurried dental correction done after the fight (re-pinning the teeth on gold posts) ultimately resulted in complications and an infection that caused Darcy's death in 1917.
Military service and later life
Corporal Harold Hardwick, ca. Aug 1919
He joined the Australian Imperial Force in August 1917 and served in World War I with the No.2 Signal Squadron as a sapper in the Middle East. He was discharged in October 1918 at the war's end. He maintained a commission in the militia from 1921 and during World War II as lieutenant-colonel he commanded the 1st Cavalry Divisional Signals from 1940 to 1942, rising to the rank of colonel.
After the war he worked for the New South Wales Education Department, helping to establish the structure of physical education and swimming programs in schools.[2] He died of a coronary occlusion on 22 February 1959.
harold, hardwick, harold, hampton, hardwick, december, 1888, february, 1959, versatile, australian, sports, star, early, 20th, century, olympic, gold, medal, swimmer, national, heavyweight, boxing, champion, state, representative, rugby, union, player, later, . 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 was on the winning team of the 4x200 metre freestyle relay at the 1912 Summer Olympics and won bronze medals in the 400 metre and 1500 metre freestyle 1 Harold HardwickPersonal informationFull nameHarold Hampton HardwickNational teamAustraliaBorn 1888 12 14 14 December 1888Balmain New South WalesDied22 February 1959 1959 02 22 aged 70 Rushcutters Bay New South WalesSportSportSwimmingStrokesFreestyleClubEnterprise Swimming ClubMedal record Men s swimmingRepresenting AustralasiaOlympic Games1912 Stockholm 4x200 m freestyle1912 Stockholm 400 m freestyle1912 Stockholm 1500 m freestyle Contents 1 Early life 2 Swimming career 3 Rugby amp boxing 4 Military service and later life 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditBorn 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 Swimming career EditIn 1907 embracing the newly popular Australian crawl stroke Hardwick won the New South Wales 100 yard championships in 61 6 seconds In 1909 he came second at the Australasian Championships in the 100 yard and 880 yard events behind Cecil Healy and Frank Beaurepaire respectively In 1911 Hardwick won the 220 yard 440 yard and 880 yard 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 Hardwick won both the 110yd freestyle and heavyweight boxing title He remained in England for the English Swimming Championships winning the 100 yard 220 yard and 440 yard freestyle titles In 1912 he was selected to represent the Australasia combined team of Australians and New Zealanders at the 1912 Summer Olympics but could not compete in boxing as it was omitted for the only time in Olympic history Hardwick was eliminated in the 100 metre freestyle semifinals In the 400 metre 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 metre 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 metre freestyle relay splitting 2m 31 2s for the fastest leg of the quartet Rugby amp boxing EditAfter returning to Australia Hardwick stopped swimming at international level and diversified his interests joining the Manly Surf Club in which he participated in winning State Championships He played first grade rugby union for Sydney s Eastern Suburbs RUFC winning a premiership with the club in 1913 In 1910 he had been selected for New South Wales to represent against a visiting American universities team In 1914 he won New South Wales State amateur heavyweight boxing championship and in 1915 he turned professional in boxing signing to appear for the promoter Snowy Baker That year he promptly claimed the national championship In his final professional bout in 1916 he was knocked out by Les Darcy Earlier in that bout Hardwick broke both of Darcy s front teeth and the hurried dental correction done after the fight re pinning the teeth on gold posts ultimately resulted in complications and an infection that caused Darcy s death in 1917 Military service and later life Edit Corporal Harold Hardwick ca Aug 1919 He joined the Australian Imperial Force in August 1917 and served in World War I with the No 2 Signal Squadron as a sapper in the Middle East He was discharged in October 1918 at the war s end He maintained a commission in the militia from 1921 and during World War II as lieutenant colonel he commanded the 1st Cavalry Divisional Signals from 1940 to 1942 rising to the rank of colonel After the war he worked for the New South Wales Education Department helping to establish the structure of physical education and swimming programs in schools 2 He died of a coronary occlusion on 22 February 1959 See also EditList of Olympic medalists in swimming men World record progression 4 200 metres freestyle relayReferences Edit Harold Hardwick Olympedia Retrieved 7 June 2021 Boxing Nepean Times 5 26 February 1959 External links EditADB biography Andrews Malcolm 2000 Australia at the Olympic Games Sydney New South Wales ABC Books pp 194 195 ISBN 0 7333 0884 8 Howell Max 1986 Aussie Gold Albion Queensland Brooks Waterloo pp 32 35 ISBN 0 86440 680 0 Awards and achievementsPreceded byDave Smith Australian heavyweight Championship Succeeded byLes Darcy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harold Hardwick amp oldid 1092902555, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
