Stan's Story
1876 – 1924
At Paris 1900, Stanley Rowley finished third in the 60m, 100m and 200m sprints. In those days, he was also able to make up the numbers in the British team for the 5000 metres team event by starting as the fifth member of the squad. Only the first four runners were required to score points towards the team's score and Rowley, a sprinter, finished last. The placing of the other four runners enabled the British team to finish first and thus Rowley became an Olympic champion. Over fifty years passed before another Australian male sprinter, Hec Hogan in the 100m at Melbourne 1956, won a medal in the men's sprints at the Olympics. Rowley competed at only one Olympic Games but for many years (1908-1924) he was Honorary Treasurer of the Australasian Athletics Union.
