David Lean (athlete)

David Lean (David Francis Lean; born 22 August 1935 in Tasmania) was an Australian athlete who competed mainly in the 440-yard hurdles and 4 × 440-yard relay.

David Lean

Medal record
Men’s athletics
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
	1956 Melbourne	4x400 metre relay
British Empire and Commonwealth Games
	1954 Vancouver	440 yard hurdles
	1958 Cardiff	440 yard hurdles
	1954 Vancouver	4 × 110 yards relay

He competed for Australia at the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the 4 × 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates Graham Gipson, Leon Gregory and Kevan Gosper.[1] He also regularly competed in the 440 yard hurdles, winning gold at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, silver at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, fifth at the Melbourne Olympic games and winning the Australian national championship in 1954.[2] 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.[3]

Lean attended Launceston Grammar School where he mainly raced over 100 yards[3] and later attended Michigan State University where he also competed in 440 and 880 yard races.[4]

References

1. "List of Australian Olympic athletics medal winners". Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
2. David Lean results
3. Welch, Bruce (5 Aug 1954) David Lean, Barbaris win gold medals; History made by Tas Athlete; The Age
4. Welch, Bruce (17 September 1958) Hurdle Star Returns Soon; The Age