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Harold Hardwick

The Olympic Games, or Olympics, are an international multi-sport event taking place every four years which comprise of summer and winter games. Though the first ancient games were held in 776 B.C, the modern games started from 1896. The unity of the 5 continents is shown on the Olympic flag by five colorful intertwined rings of red, blue, green, yellow, and black, created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin to represent at least one color of the participating country’s national flag.

Harold Hardwick was born on December 1888, died 1950 and was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1900s and 1910s, who won gold in the 4 by 200 meters freestyle relay at the 1912 Summer Olympics. He also won bronze medals in the 400 meters and 1500 meters freestyle and later became a colonel in the Australian Infantry Force. He was also a professional heavyweight boxing champion of Australia and represented New South Wales in Rugby Union.

Hardwick was eliminated in the 100 meters freestyle semifinals. In the 400 meters 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 meters, 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 4 by 200 meters freestyle relay, splitting 2 minutes 31.2 seconds for the fastest leg of the quartet.

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, 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 Infantry Force, and eventually rose to the rank of colonel.

With all his dedication and devotion in his play he achieved many goals in his overall athletic career. He had the ability of defeating the opponent easily by just giving some extra hard work and efforts. He never lost hope in himself and always fought hard to achieve his goal. He is still remembered as one of the best athletes in the history of Olympics.

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