Gary Norman Hurring is a former swimmer from New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

, who won the gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games

1978 Commonwealth Games

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...

 in the men's 200 metres backstroke

Backstroke

The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...

. He gained silver in the same event at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships

1978 World Aquatics Championships

The 1978 World Aquatics Championships took place in West Berlin, West Germany between August 20 and August 28, 1978.-Medals table:-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronised swimming:-Water polo:Men-External links:***...

.

Hurring was considered a possible medallist for the 1980 Summer Olympics

1980 Summer Olympics

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...

 but was denied the opportunity due to the boycott by the majority of New Zealand Olympic sports associations. At the 1984 Summer Olympics

1984 Summer Olympics

The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...

 he just missed medals in both backstroke events finishing fourth in the 100m and fifth in the 200m.

Hurring is the son of two former Olympic backstroke swimmers, Lincoln Hurring

Lincoln Hurring

Lincoln William Norman Hurring was a swimmer from New Zealand. He won two silver medals at the 1954 British Empire Games - one in the men's 110 yards backstroke and another in the men's 330 yards medley relay. He represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, 1952 and 1956...

 and Jean Stewart

Jean Stewart

Jean Hurring , is a former swimmer from New Zealand. She represented her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, 1952 and 1956...

, who won the bronze medal in the women's 100 metres backstroke at the 1952 Summer Olympics

1952 Summer Olympics

The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...

 in Helsinki, Finland.