Lawrence Morgan
Encyclopedia
Lawrence "Laurie" Morgan (5 February 1915 – 19 August 1997) was an Australian sportsman who is the only person to play VFL/AFL
football and win an Olympic Gold Medal. He played his Australian rules football
with Fitzroy
during the late 1930s and won two golds medal in equestrian
at the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome.
When Morgan, a country boy, came to Fitzroy in 1937 he got to play in the same side as the great Haydn Bunton
. He spent two further seasons at Fitzroy, both under coach Gordon Rattray
, before leaving.
Morgan returned to the sporting scene in 1960, at the age of 42, when he competed for the Australian equestrian team at the Rome Olympics. Riding his horse 'Salad Days', Morgan won a Gold Medal ahead of countryman Neale Lavis in the Individual Three-Day Event to become the first Australian to win an equestrian gold medal. The former VFL player then teamed up with Lavis and Bill Roycroft
to win Gold in the Team Event, best remembered for Roycroft's heroics in riding despite suffering concussion and severe bruising of his ribs and collarbone from a previous fall.
Although the Australian Olympic team consisted of big names like Herb Elliott
, Dawn Fraser
and Murray Rose
, Morgan was the only dual Gold Medalist.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
football and win an Olympic Gold Medal. He played his Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
with Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
during the late 1930s and won two golds medal in equestrian
Equestrian at the Summer Olympics
Equestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It disappeared until 1912, but has appeared at every Summer Olympic Games since. The current Olympic equestrian disciplines are Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping...
at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in Rome.
When Morgan, a country boy, came to Fitzroy in 1937 he got to play in the same side as the great Haydn Bunton
Haydn Bunton, Sr.
Haydn William Bunton was an Australian rules football player and coach. He is regarded by some historians and observers of Australian rules as its greatest-ever player.-Playing career:...
. He spent two further seasons at Fitzroy, both under coach Gordon Rattray
Gordon Rattray
Gordon Kitchener Rattray was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Fitzroy in the VFL.The son of Bruce Rattray , Gordon Kitchener Rattray was born on born 19 October 1898 at Shepparton...
, before leaving.
Morgan returned to the sporting scene in 1960, at the age of 42, when he competed for the Australian equestrian team at the Rome Olympics. Riding his horse 'Salad Days', Morgan won a Gold Medal ahead of countryman Neale Lavis in the Individual Three-Day Event to become the first Australian to win an equestrian gold medal. The former VFL player then teamed up with Lavis and Bill Roycroft
Bill Roycroft
James William "Bill" George Roycroft OBE was an Olympic equestrian champion who competed for Australia in five consecutive Summer Olympic Games: 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976.He was born in Flowerdale, Victoria...
to win Gold in the Team Event, best remembered for Roycroft's heroics in riding despite suffering concussion and severe bruising of his ribs and collarbone from a previous fall.
Although the Australian Olympic team consisted of big names like Herb Elliott
Herb Elliott
Herbert James "Herb" Elliott AC MBE is a former Australian athlete, one of the world's greatest middle distance runners...
, Dawn Fraser
Dawn Fraser
Dawn Fraser AO, MBE is an Australian champion swimmer. She is one of only two swimmers to win the same Olympic event three times – in her case the 100 meters freestyle....
and Murray Rose
Murray Rose
Iain Murray Rose AM was born on 6 January 1939 in Nairn, Scotland, but he moved to Australia with his family at an early age after World War II. He took up swimming as a boy and was an Olympic Games champion at age 17....
, Morgan was the only dual Gold Medalist.