Geoff Henke
Encyclopedia
Geoff Henke is a former Australian ice hockey
player and Australian Olympic Committee
official. He was the chef de mission of the Australian Winter Olympic delegations from 1976 until 1994, and is credited with ending the neglect of winter sports in Australia.
Henke became the chef de mission in 1976 and held the position for two decades, until Ian Chesterman
took over in 1998. Henke rose to become vice-president of the AOF,Gordon (1994), p. 412. and is accredited with ending the AOF's neglect of winter sport.Gordon (1994), p. 421. Up until Henke's appointment, Colin Hickey
and Malcolm Milne
had been the only athletes to have placed in the top half of any event.Gordon (1994), p. 412.
In 1981, Henke took AOF board members into the Australian Alps for a board meeting, allowing him to exploit the environment to promote winter sport. He said that the next Olympics "was the first time the AOF ever really got behind the winter team".Gordon (1994), p. 422.
The 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville
, France
was viewed as the potential start of a new era in Australian winter sports, with hopes that a maiden medal would result.McAvaney, p. 132. Australia's short track relay team went into the 1992 Olympics as world champions, but the team crashed in the semi-finals. Kirstie Marshall
was in the process of winning the World Cup series for the year, and was one of the favourites for the women's aerial skiing, but she crash-landed and finished seventh.McAvaney p. 135.
In 1994, Australia's short track relay team won Australia's first Winter Olympic medal, a bronze.Andrew, p. 251. It was a successful campaign for Henke's swansong; the largest team that Australia had sent apart from 1960, with 27 athletes, recorded an unprecedented five top 10 finishes. Marshall came sixth in aerials, while Kerryn Rim
placed eighth in the 15 km biathlon and Steven Bradbury
and Nizielski of the medal-winning relay team placed eighth and tenth in the 500 m and 1,000 m short track events respectively.Andrews, p. 252. In contrast to the previous games, the Australians placed in the top half of the field in six of their eight individual starts.Gordon (1994), p. 526.
's success prompted the eventual starting of the Australian Ski Federation by Henke, and their program to sponsor talented young skiers and send them to Europe to hone their craft, among them Steven Lee
,Gordon (1994), p. 420. and Zali Steggall
, and aerial skiers Jacqui Cooper
and Kirstie Marshall
.Gordon (2003), p. 280.
After the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (initially called the Australian Institute of Winter Sports) was created. It was given a million-dollar annual budget and for the first time, Australia had a federal government-funded full-time training program to accompany the Australian Institute of Sport
. This led to a steady rise in the number of Australians who have won medals at World Cup events in the immediate years after the OWIA’s creation. Henke was the inaugural chairman.Gordon (2003), pp. 282–283.
Gweneth Molony
, and their daughter Joanne Henke
was a member of the downhill skiing team in 1976.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player and Australian Olympic Committee
Australian Olympic Committee
The Australian Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee in Australia for the Olympic Games movement. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams, and raises funds to send Australian competitors to Olympic events organised by the International Olympic Committee .-Background:The...
official. He was the chef de mission of the Australian Winter Olympic delegations from 1976 until 1994, and is credited with ending the neglect of winter sports in Australia.
Olympic participation
Winter sports have traditionally been unattended to by Australian Olympic officials. In 1956, the ice hockey team offered to pay their own way and the only thing that they needed from the AOF was formal permission. However, the AOF never responded to their request, and they were unable to attend, and criticised the AOF for their disinterest. One of the affected athletes was Henke.Gordon (2003), pp. 271–272.Henke became the chef de mission in 1976 and held the position for two decades, until Ian Chesterman
Ian Chesterman
Ian Chesterman is a member of the Australian Olympic Committee and an Australian Winter Olympic administrator.He has been the Chef de Mission at the 1998 Nagano, 2002 Salt Lake City and 2006 Torino Winter Olympics...
took over in 1998. Henke rose to become vice-president of the AOF,Gordon (1994), p. 412. and is accredited with ending the AOF's neglect of winter sport.Gordon (1994), p. 421. Up until Henke's appointment, Colin Hickey
Colin Hickey
Colin Edward Hickey was an Australian speed skater. He represented Australia at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics. His seventh place in the 1956 Winter Olympics was Australia's best result until 1976....
and Malcolm Milne
Malcolm Milne
Malcolm Milne is a former Australian Olympic skier.In 1968, at the age of 19, Malcolm competed in his first Olympics at Grenoble, France. In an era dominated by Jean-Claude Killy, Malcolm finished twenty-fourth of eighty-six starters, with a time only 5.51 seconds behind Killy...
had been the only athletes to have placed in the top half of any event.Gordon (1994), p. 412.
In 1981, Henke took AOF board members into the Australian Alps for a board meeting, allowing him to exploit the environment to promote winter sport. He said that the next Olympics "was the first time the AOF ever really got behind the winter team".Gordon (1994), p. 422.
The 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
was viewed as the potential start of a new era in Australian winter sports, with hopes that a maiden medal would result.McAvaney, p. 132. Australia's short track relay team went into the 1992 Olympics as world champions, but the team crashed in the semi-finals. Kirstie Marshall
Kirstie Marshall
Kirstie Marshall is a notable Australian aerial skier and Victorian state politician.Marshall was an ex-gymnast who became an aerial skier at Mount Buller, Victoria. During her skiing career Marshall won over 40 World Cup medals, including 17 World Cup gold medals...
was in the process of winning the World Cup series for the year, and was one of the favourites for the women's aerial skiing, but she crash-landed and finished seventh.McAvaney p. 135.
In 1994, Australia's short track relay team won Australia's first Winter Olympic medal, a bronze.Andrew, p. 251. It was a successful campaign for Henke's swansong; the largest team that Australia had sent apart from 1960, with 27 athletes, recorded an unprecedented five top 10 finishes. Marshall came sixth in aerials, while Kerryn Rim
Kerryn Rim
Kerryn Rim is an Australian biathlete who competed at three Winter Olympics from 1992 to 1998. On her debut, she came 39ths and 32nd out of 68 and 66 competitors respectively in the 7.5 km and 10 km events. In 1994, she came 21st and 8th out of 69 and 68 racers in the 7.5 km and...
placed eighth in the 15 km biathlon and Steven Bradbury
Steven Bradbury
Steven John Bradbury OAM is a former Australian short track speed skater and four-time Olympian, who won the 1,000 m event at the 2002 Winter Olympics after all of his opponents were involved in a last corner pile-up...
and Nizielski of the medal-winning relay team placed eighth and tenth in the 500 m and 1,000 m short track events respectively.Andrews, p. 252. In contrast to the previous games, the Australians placed in the top half of the field in six of their eight individual starts.Gordon (1994), p. 526.
Development work
Malcolm MilneMalcolm Milne
Malcolm Milne is a former Australian Olympic skier.In 1968, at the age of 19, Malcolm competed in his first Olympics at Grenoble, France. In an era dominated by Jean-Claude Killy, Malcolm finished twenty-fourth of eighty-six starters, with a time only 5.51 seconds behind Killy...
's success prompted the eventual starting of the Australian Ski Federation by Henke, and their program to sponsor talented young skiers and send them to Europe to hone their craft, among them Steven Lee
Steven Lee
Steven Lee is an Australian alpine skier. He competed in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, and had a competitive career lasting just on 25 years. He is the second of only 3 Australian skiers ever to claim victory on the Alpine World Cup circuit...
,Gordon (1994), p. 420. and Zali Steggall
Zali Steggall
Zali Steggall is Australia's most internationally successful alpine skier, winning a bronze medal in slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, and a World Championship gold medal in 1999. Steggall's long Olympic career extended from Albertville in 1992 to Salt Lake City in 2002...
, and aerial skiers Jacqui Cooper
Jacqui Cooper
Jacqui Cooper is an Australian freestyle skier and motivational speaker.Cooper has been participating in aerial skiing since she was 16, and has been in the Australian team for 13 years. She has had many injuries, including a shattered knee and a broken back.She competed at the 1994 Winter...
and Kirstie Marshall
Kirstie Marshall
Kirstie Marshall is a notable Australian aerial skier and Victorian state politician.Marshall was an ex-gymnast who became an aerial skier at Mount Buller, Victoria. During her skiing career Marshall won over 40 World Cup medals, including 17 World Cup gold medals...
.Gordon (2003), p. 280.
After the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (initially called the Australian Institute of Winter Sports) was created. It was given a million-dollar annual budget and for the first time, Australia had a federal government-funded full-time training program to accompany the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
. This led to a steady rise in the number of Australians who have won medals at World Cup events in the immediate years after the OWIA’s creation. Henke was the inaugural chairman.Gordon (2003), pp. 282–283.
Family
He married 1952 Olympic representative in figure skatingFigure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
Gweneth Molony
Gweneth Molony
Gweneth Molony is an Australian figure skater. She is the 1949-1951 Australian national champion. She represented Australia at the 1952 Winter Olympics, where she placed 21st. She and Nancy Burley were the first ladies singles skaters to represent Australia at the Olympics...
, and their daughter Joanne Henke
Joanne Henke
Joanne Henke is a former Australian alpine skier who represented Australia at the 1952 Winter Olympics. She is the daughter of former ice hockey player and Australian winter sports administrator Geoff Henke and 1952 figure skating Olympian Gweneth Molony.Gordon , p. 413.- References :...
was a member of the downhill skiing team in 1976.