Nigel Barker (athlete)

Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Australia
Intercalated Games
	1906 Athens	100 metres
	1906 Athens	400 metres

Nigel Chase Barker (26 February 1883 – 31 July 1948) was an Australian athlete, who is regarded as holder of Australia's first athletics world record, in the 400 yards, and is an Intercalated Games bronze medalist.^[1]

Barker was born in Sydney and attended Newington College (1895–1901) ^[2] and the University of Sydney.^[3] He is described in the official Olympic history of Australia as 'an outstanding all-rounder' and he played representative rugby union for New South Wales, he was twice selected for Australia in rugby but was forced to decline on both occasions.^[3] In 1904, Barker was selected for the St Louis Games, but injured an ankle playing rugby.^[4]

A public subscription raised the funds for Barker to compete in Athens for the 1906 Intercalated Games,^[5] at the games he competed in two events, first up was the 100 metres, in the first round he finished in second place behind American Lawson Robertson,^[6] in the semi-finals he finished second again, one yard behind another American William Eaton,^[7] in the final, running from lane 2, he finished in third place for the bronze medal behind another two Americans, Archie Hahn and Fay Moulton.^[8] On the same day as the 100 metres final, he also competed in the 400 metres, in his first round heat he won in a time of 53 seconds and qualified for the final, ^[9] after a couple of days rest he finished again in bronze medal position behind Paul Pilgrim and James Lightbody.^[10]

At the end of his athletic career Barker had won ten National Championship titles from 1903 to 1910.^[11]

Since 2012, University of Sydney have awarded out a Nigel C Barker Medal for Sport Achievement.^[12]

References