Glen Housman
Encyclopedia
Glen Clifford Housman was an Australia
n long-distance freestyle swimmer of the 1980s and 1990s, who won the silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, swimming at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
. His career was overshadowed by fellow Australian Kieren Perkins
, and was also marred by illness.
Housman entered the international stage after winning the 400 m ,800 m and 1500 m freestyle events at the 1989 Australian championships, gaining selection for the Pan Pacific Championships
in Tokyo
, Japan
, where he claimed gold in the 1500 m event. He continued to improve, breaking the 1500 m world record in Adelaide
at the 1990 Australian championships to qualify for the 1990 Commonwealth Games
in Auckland
. However, this record was disallowed as the electronic timing equipment failed as he touched the finishing wall, even though he was clearly ahead of the world record as he touched. This incident caused considerable embarrassment to Adelaide as they were later unsuccessful in their bid for the 1998 Commonwealth Games
, losing to Kuala Lumpur
. Housman proceeded to win a gold and silver in the 1500 m and 400 m events respectively in Auckland.
In 1991, Housman was struck down by illness, and was forced to sit on the sidelines as Perkins claimed the 1500 m world record. He returned at the Barcelona Summer Olympics
, where despite swimming a fine race, he was completely overshadowed as Perkins swept all before him. Housman was once again absent in 1993 due to illness, returning to the pool for the 1994 Commonwealth Games
only to finish 3rd in the 1500 m, trailing Perkins and Daniel Kowalski
. He also won gold in the 4x200 m freestyle relay.
Housman's final international campaign at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
was a disappointment. He missed out on selection for the 1500 m behind Perkins and Kowalski, and was relegated to the role of a heat swimmer for the 4x200 m freestyle relay team, which later finished fourth.
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...
n long-distance freestyle swimmer of the 1980s and 1990s, who won the silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, swimming at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. His career was overshadowed by fellow Australian Kieren Perkins
Kieren Perkins
Kieren John Perkins OAM , is a former Australian professional swimmer. One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers, he won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 in the 1500-metre freestyle, and a silver medal in 2000....
, and was also marred by illness.
Housman entered the international stage after winning the 400 m ,800 m and 1500 m freestyle events at the 1989 Australian championships, gaining selection for the Pan Pacific Championships
1989 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
The third edition of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, a long course event, was held in 1989 in Tokyo, Japan from August 17–20.-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:**...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where he claimed gold in the 1500 m event. He continued to improve, breaking the 1500 m world record in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
at the 1990 Australian championships to qualify for the 1990 Commonwealth Games
1990 Commonwealth Games
The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
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...
. However, this record was disallowed as the electronic timing equipment failed as he touched the finishing wall, even though he was clearly ahead of the world record as he touched. This incident caused considerable embarrassment to Adelaide as they were later unsuccessful in their bid for the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
, losing to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. Housman proceeded to win a gold and silver in the 1500 m and 400 m events respectively in Auckland.
In 1991, Housman was struck down by illness, and was forced to sit on the sidelines as Perkins claimed the 1500 m world record. He returned at the Barcelona Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, where despite swimming a fine race, he was completely overshadowed as Perkins swept all before him. Housman was once again absent in 1993 due to illness, returning to the pool for the 1994 Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 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...
only to finish 3rd in the 1500 m, trailing Perkins and Daniel Kowalski
Daniel Kowalski
Daniel Steven Kowalski is a former Australian middle- and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle events. He competed in the Olympic Games in 200 m, 400 m and 1,500 m individual freestyle events and in the 4x200 m freestyle relay...
. He also won gold in the 4x200 m freestyle relay.
Housman's final international campaign at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 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....
was a disappointment. He missed out on selection for the 1500 m behind Perkins and Kowalski, and was relegated to the role of a heat swimmer for the 4x200 m freestyle relay team, which later finished fourth.
Links
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1069392/index.htm
- http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23666425-5012448,00.html