Leslie's Story
Leslie McPherson was one of two male track athletes, alongside Corrie Gardner, that made up the entire 1904 Australian Olympic Team.
McPherson was a 400 yards hurdler. He travelled to St Louis a couple of days before the program was due to start but discovered that the event was to be run over hurdles a foot lower than the 3 ft 6 in hurdles he was used to. He promptly withdrew from the Games. The decision may have also been influenced by heavy rainfall, which put the track underwater. McPherson had intended to stop off in St Louis on his way to Cornell University to undertake a course.
St Louis 1904 was the first Olympics after Federation in 1901, meaning true “Australian” national representation was now possible.
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