Charlene Rendina
Encyclopedia
Charlene Rendina (born 18 December 1947) is a retired Australia
n athlete who specialised in sprint
and middle distance events.
In her first Olympic
competition in Munich, 1972
, Rendina set an Olympic record (51.90 seconds in her heat) on her way to the 400 metres
final where she eventually finished in sixth place in 51.99 seconds. She was also in the final of the 4 x 400m relay where she ran a 50.7 leg for the Australian team that came in 6th in 3 m 28:84 secs
At the 1974 Commonwealth Games
, she moved up to the 800 metres
distance and took gold.
At the 1976 Olympics she was eliminated after finishing 5th in her semi-final in 2:00:29 at 800m. She was part of the Australian 4 x 400m relay team that finished 4th in 3m 25:56 secs - her leg being timed at 51.6 seconds.
In her career, she won five Australian Championships in Athletics
at 800m and two at 400m.
Her personal best time for the 800m, a Hand-timed 1:59.0, set in 1976, has remained the Australia
n record for thirty-three years, .
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n athlete who specialised in sprint
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
and middle distance events.
In her first Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
competition in Munich, 1972
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, Rendina set an Olympic record (51.90 seconds in her heat) on her way to the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
final where she eventually finished in sixth place in 51.99 seconds. She was also in the final of the 4 x 400m relay where she ran a 50.7 leg for the Australian team that came in 6th in 3 m 28:84 secs
At the 1974 Commonwealth Games
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
, she moved up to the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
distance and took gold.
At the 1976 Olympics she was eliminated after finishing 5th in her semi-final in 2:00:29 at 800m. She was part of the Australian 4 x 400m relay team that finished 4th in 3m 25:56 secs - her leg being timed at 51.6 seconds.
In her career, she won five Australian Championships in Athletics
Australian Championships in Athletics
The Australian Athletics Championships or Australian Open Track and Field Championships are held annually to determine Australia's champion athletes in a range of athletics events. The championships are the primary qualification trial for athletes wishing to compete at the Olympic Games,...
at 800m and two at 400m.
Her personal best time for the 800m, a Hand-timed 1:59.0, set in 1976, has remained the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n record for thirty-three years, .
See also
- Australian athletics champions (Women)