Roland Hardy

Roland Hardy (11 June 1926 – 14 June 2016)[1] was a British racewalker who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and in the 1956 Summer Olympics.[2] He was born in Sheepbridge, Derbyshire.[3] Hardy was a five-time national champion in the 7 miles walk and a two-time national champion in the 2 miles walk.[4]

Roland Hardy
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born(1926-06-11)11 June 1926
Sheepbridge, Derbyshire, England
Died14 June 2016(2016-06-14) (aged 90)
Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
Sport
SportRacewalking

Biography

Hardy was born in Sheepbridge, Derbyshire, in June 1926.[2] At school, Hardy took part in both cricket and football.[2] In the latter, he was noticed by Sheffield United's manager Teddy Davison, who signed him to play for the side.[2] However, Hardy's National service stopped him from taking up a career in football.[2] In April 1949, Hardy began to take up race walking, where he joined the Sheffield United Harriers.[2] Later that year, Hardy won the 1949 Sheffield Star Walk, breaking the course record by 53 seconds.[5]

In August 1951, Hardy set a new world record in the 5-mile walk, beating the previous time by nine seconds,[2] and then broke the British 7-mile record one year later.[2] With this form, Hardy was selected to represent Great Britain at the Olympics.[6]

Hardy competed at two Olympic Games.[7] At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Hardy took part in the men's 10 kilometres walk, but was disqualified in his heat.[8] Four years later, at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, he finished in eighth place in the men's 20 kilometres walk.[9]

He died in June 2016, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, at the age of 90.[10][11]

References
  1. Roland Hardy's obituary
  2. "Roland Hardy". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Roland Hardy". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  4. "BRITISH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 1945-1959". GB Athletics. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  5. "Vale Roland Hardy 1926-2016" (PDF). Victorian Race Walking Club. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  6. "Roland Hardy – Famous Derbyshire People". Peak District Online. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. "Hallamshire Harriers History – the first 50 years" (PDF). Hallamshire Harriers. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  8. "10 kilometres Walk, Men (1952)". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  9. "20 kilometres Walk, Men (1956)". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  10. "DOUBLE OLYMPIC RACE WALKER ROLAND HARDY DIES". Pocket Mags. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  11. "Roland Hardy obituary". Legacy. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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