David Lean (''David Francis Lean;'' born 22 August 1935 in

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

) was an Australian athlete who competed mainly in the 440-yard hurdles and 4 × 440-yard relay. He competed for Australia at the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...

held in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

in the 4 × 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates

Graham Gipson Graham Gipson (''Graham Chater Gipson;'' born 21 May 1932) was an Australian athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. He competed for Australia in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne in the 4 × 400 metre relay where he won the ...

Leon Gregory Leon Stuart Gregory (born 23 November 1932) was an Australian athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. He competed for Australia in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the 4 × 400 metre relay where he won the Si ...

and

Kevan Gosper Richard Kevan Gosper, AO (born 19 December 1933) is an Australian former athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. He was formerly a Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, and combined Chairman and CEO of Shell Australia ...

. He also regularly competed in the 440 yard hurdles, winning gold at the

1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fi ...

, silver at the

1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (Welsh: Gemau Ymerodraeth Prydain a'r Gymanwlad 1958) were held in Cardiff, Wales, from 18–26 July 1958. Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games ...

, fifth at the Melbourne Olympic games and winning the Australian national championship in 1954. His gold medal at the 1954 Vancouver Games was only his eighth race over the distance and the first ever international victory by a Tasmanian athlete.Welch, Bruce (5 Aug 1954
David Lean, Barbaris win gold medals; History made by Tas Athlete

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

Lean attended

Launceston Grammar School (Unless the Lord is with us, our labour is in vain) , established = , type = Independent, co-educational, day & boarding , denomination = Anglican , slogan = Nurture, Challenge ...

where he mainly raced over 100 yards and later attended

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...

where he also competed in 440 and 880 yard races.Welch, Bruce (17 September 1958
Hurdle Star Returns Soon

References

Living people 1935 births Sportsmen from Tasmania Australian male sprinters Australian male hurdlers Olympic athletes of Australia Olympic silver medalists for Australia Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia Athletes (track and field) at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field) Medallists at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games {{Australia-Olympic-medalist-stub