Full name: Robert Morton Newburgh "Bob" Tisdall
Nickname(s): The Irish Wonder
Gender: Male
Height: 6-1 (186 cm)
Weight: 163 lbs (74 kg)
Born: May 16, 1907 in Nuwara Eliya, Madhyama, Sri Lanka
Died: July 27, 2004 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Affiliations: Achilles Club, (GBR)
Country: Ireland
Sport: Athletics
Medals: 1 Gold (1 Total)
A year before the 1932 Olympics, nobody would have even considered Bob Tisdall for the Olympic gold in the 400 m hurdles. While a decent sprinter and high hurdler at Cambridge University, where he majored in agriculture and forestry, Tisdall had never contested the event until, early in 1932, he asked the president of the Irish NOC to send him to Los Angeles for that event. He met the qualifying standard in his second attempt, winning the Irish championship in the event. In 1931 Tisdall had won four events in the Oxbridge meet â the 440 yards, long jump, shot put, and 120 yard hurdles. He was Irish champion in the 120 yard hurdles in 1930 and in the 440 yards hurdles in 1932, but he was not considered of world caliber. But once in Los Angeles, Tisdall was unbeatable. In the final, he even bettered the world record to win the gold medal. He received the medal, but not the record, as Tisdall had knocked over the final hurdle, which was not allowed by the rules of the day for record purposes. Born in Sri Lanka, raised in Ireland and educated in England, Tisdall emigrated to South Africa at the end of 1933 and while there helped to form the South African-Irish Regiment during World War II. He later lived in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Kenya and Tanzania before returning to Ireland and eventually settling in Nambour, in Queensland, Australia. He participated in the torch relay for the Sydney Olympics, aged 93. Personal Bests\: 400H â 51.67 (1932); Dec â 6398 (1932). |
Games | Age | City | Sport | Event | Team | NOC | Rank | Medal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Men's 400 metres Hurdles | Ireland | IRL | 1 | Gold | |
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Men's Decathlon | Ireland | IRL | 8 |
Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T(H) | T(A) | L | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Final | 1 | 51.8 | 51.67 | 3 | ||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Semi-Finals | Heat Two | 1 | QU/=OR | 52.8 | 52.60 | |
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Round One | Heat Two | 1 | QU | 54.8 | 54.63 |
Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | P(1912BT) | P(1985T) | T | D | H | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Final Standings | 8 | 7,327.170 | 6.398 | |||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | 100 metres | 4T | 833.4 | 744 | 11.3 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | 100 metres | Heat Five | 1 | 833.4 | 744 | 11.3 | |||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Long jump | 10 | 755.00 | 720 | 6.60 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Shot put | 9 | 724 | 642 | 12.58 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | High jump | 10T | 608 | 504 | 1.65 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | 400 metres | 1 | OB | 969,92 | 855 | 49.0 | |||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | 110 metre hurdles | 2 | 952,5 | 762 | 15.5 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | 110 metre hurdles | Heat Three | 1 | 952,5 | 762 | 15.5 | |||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Discus throw | 12 | 547.80 | 530 | 33.31 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Pole vault | 8T | 595 | 406 | 3.20 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | Javelin throw | 11 | 567.150 | 519 | 45.26 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | 1,500 metres | 2 | 774.4 | 716 | 4:34.4 | ||||
1932 Summer | 25 | Los Angeles | Athletics | Ireland | 1,500 metres | Heat Two | 1 | 774.4 | 716 | 4:34.4 |