Norman Read
Encyclopedia
Norman Richard Read (13 August 1931 – 22 May 1994) was a New Zealand
racewalker.
Born in England, Read emigrated to New Zealand in 1953. The self-proclaimed "Pommie-Kiwi" competed for New Zealand in the 1956 Summer Olympics
held in Melbourne
, Australia
in the 50 kilometre walk where he won the gold medal. He was not originally selected, but (with Bill Bailey) went to Australia. Reed won the Australian 50 km championship, and was then selected.
Read also competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome
, finishing fifth in the 20 kilometre walk but not finishing the 50 kilometre walk, and also at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
in Kingston
, winning a Bronze medal in the 20 mile road walk.
Read died of a heart attack during a veteran's bike race in Pirongia
, Waikato
.
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...
racewalker.
Born in England, Read emigrated to New Zealand in 1953. The self-proclaimed "Pommie-Kiwi" competed for New Zealand in the 1956 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics
At the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, 33 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 9 for women. There were a total number of 720 participating athletes from 61 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:**...
held in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 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...
in the 50 kilometre walk where he won the gold medal. He was not originally selected, but (with Bill Bailey) went to Australia. Reed won the Australian 50 km championship, and was then selected.
Read also competed 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
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, finishing fifth in the 20 kilometre walk but not finishing the 50 kilometre walk, and also at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth 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
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...
, winning a Bronze medal in the 20 mile road walk.
Read died of a heart attack during a veteran's bike race in Pirongia
Pirongia
Pirongia is a small town in the Waipa District of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.It is 12 kilometres to the west of Te Awamutu, on the banks of the Waipa River, close to the foot of the 962 metre Mount Pirongia, which lies in a forest park to the west of the town.Pirongia was...
, Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
.