David Gerrard
Encyclopedia
David Gerrard OBE
, CNZM
(born 1 May 1945 in Auckland
), is a sports administrator and sports medicine specialist, and former Olympic Games
swimming representative from New Zealand
.
As a competitive swimmer Gerrard was a specialist in the butterfly stroke
winning the national 110 yards title from 1962 to 1968 (excluding 1964) and the 220 yards title for ten consecutive years from 1960 to 1969.
As a representative at the Olympic Games Gerrard competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics
, reaching the semi-finals of the 200 metres butterfly. He also represented New Zealand twice at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. At the 1962 Games
in Perth
, Australia
he reached the finals in both the 110 yards and 220 yards butterfly but did not medal. In 1966 Games
in Kingston, Jamaica
he won Gold in the 220 yards butterfly and Bronze as part of the New Zealand 4x110 yards medley relay team. He also reached the final of the 110 yards butterfly.
After his retirement from competition, Gerrard gained a medical degree (MBChB) at the University of Otago
in 1977 and has specialised in the field of sports medicine, mainly based in Dunedin
at the University of Otago. He has served as an official at the following Olympic and Commonwealth Games:
He was awarded the OBE in 1996 for services to medicine and sport.
By 2007 Gerrard had become the Associate Dean of the School of Medicine and Associate Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine
, and in that year's Queen's Birthday Honours
was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CNZM
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 1 May 1945 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
), is a sports administrator and sports medicine specialist, and former Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
swimming representative from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
As a competitive swimmer Gerrard was a specialist in the butterfly stroke
Butterfly stroke
The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...
winning the national 110 yards title from 1962 to 1968 (excluding 1964) and the 220 yards title for ten consecutive years from 1960 to 1969.
As a representative at the Olympic Games Gerrard competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, reaching the semi-finals of the 200 metres butterfly. He also represented New Zealand twice at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. At the 1962 Games
1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
he reached the finals in both the 110 yards and 220 yards butterfly but did not medal. In 1966 Games
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions....
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
he won Gold in the 220 yards butterfly and Bronze as part of the New Zealand 4x110 yards medley relay team. He also reached the final of the 110 yards butterfly.
After his retirement from competition, Gerrard gained a medical degree (MBChB) at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in 1977 and has specialised in the field of sports medicine, mainly based in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
at the University of Otago. He has served as an official at the following Olympic and Commonwealth Games:
- 1974 Commonwealth Games: Swimming Manager
- 1982 Commonwealth Games1982 Commonwealth GamesThe 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
: Team Doctor - 1984 Summer Olympics1984 Summer OlympicsThe 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
: Team Doctor - 1986 Commonwealth Games1986 Commonwealth GamesThe 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
: Team Doctor - 1988 Summer Olympics1988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
: Health Team Leader - 1994 Commonwealth Games1994 Commonwealth GamesThe 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
: Chef de Mission - 1996 Summer Olympics1996 Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
: Chef de Mission
He was awarded the OBE in 1996 for services to medicine and sport.
By 2007 Gerrard had become the Associate Dean of the School of Medicine and Associate Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine
University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine
The Dunedin School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that make up the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago. All Otago University medical students who gain entry after a first year "Health Sciences" program, or who gain graduate entry spend their second and third years studying...
, and in that year's Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.