Brian Crago

Age

Passed away

Place of Birth

SA

Olympic History

Melbourne 1956

Rome 1960

Career Events

Individual - Open

Team - Open

 

Brian's Story

1926 – 1998

Brian Crago, from South Australia, was a member of the first two equestrian teams to represent Australia at the Olympic Games. At Stockholm in June 1956, where the equestrian events of the Melbourne Olympic Games were held because of Australia’s strict equine quarantine rules, he was the best performed of the 3-day squad, finishing 11th in the individual contest and thus contributing strongly to the excellent fourth in the team event. Notice had been served to the equestrian world that Australia had arrived in the 3-day event. Crago, and his fellow equestrians from Stockholm, marched with the full Australian team in the Opening Ceremony at Melbourne in November. 

At Rome 1960, Crago was in a certain medal-winning position in the individual contest, along with Laurie Morgan and Neale Lavis, after finishing a split second behind the former in the gruelling cross country ride on the second day. Alas, Crago’s horse now had an injured ligament and was withdrawn from the competition. Across the eternal city, Bill Roycroft, who had fallen during the cross country, but had still completed the course, was lying in hospital with a severely injured shoulder, courtesy of the tumble. Australia needed three riders to complete the show jumping course on day three to remain in contention for the gold medal in the team event. Changes of horse and/or riders were not permitted. Hence, for that third point-scoring team member, Crago was able to compete but he didn’t have a fit horse and thus was out of the reckoning, and Roycroft looked extremely doubtful to ride but his horse was fine. It is now Australian sporting legend how Roycroft rose from his hospital bed to pilot his horse to an error-free round in the show jumping for Australia to claim the team gold medal. Brian Crago was deemed to be the fourth member of that team.

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