Ray Weinberg
Encyclopedia
Raymond Henry Weinberg AM
(born 1926 in the country town of Alexandra
, Victoria
) is a former Australia
n athlete and coach. He was one of Australia's finest hurdlers, being ranked in the Top 8 in the world for 4 years; an Olympic finalist; in 1952 having the fastest time in the world for 220 yards hurdles; and holding the national 110 metres hurdles record for 20 years. He also held the Victorian record in the decathlon
. In addition, he created, designed and had manufactured, the first Australian Olympic lapel pin.
club, Carlton
but was convinced by his father to concentrate on athletics.
He married Shirley Ogle, Victorian state sprint champion and record holder. After they were married, they moved to Victorian country town Kerang, 200 kilometres north-west of Melbourne
where he ran his parents' hotel, The Commercial Hotel, for over 20 years. This move necessitated training by himself, usually at the local Kerang airport (KRA
) after closing the bar at his hotel. Weekend competition meant a 400+ kilometre round trip to Olympic Park in Melbourne.
He and Shirley have three children.
From the 1948-49 season to 1952-53, he won the National 220 yards hurdles championships twice ( 1950-51 24.0 seconds and 1951-52 23.8 seconds ) and was second in two other years. In 1952, he held the fastest time in the world that year for the 220 yards hurdles. And was ranked in the Top 10 in the World over 110 metres hurdles in 1950 (6th), 1951 (8th), 1952 (6th) and 1953 (7th).
Weinberg was chosen to compete in the Australian Olympic Team for the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London
. He was ranked 23rd choice overall of athletes chosen by all sports, and sixth in the athletic team. The trip from Sydney to London was a five day flight with each evening spent on the ground.
He made the Semi Final finishing 5th, just out of a qualifying place for the final, the winners running an Olympic Record time.
His trip home was on the S.S. Orantes, and shared the voyage with the returning Bradman
's Invincibles
.
He was chosen in the Australian team to compete at the 1950 Commonwealth Games in Auckland
where he finished second in 14.4 seconds to Australian Peter Gardner who ran a Games Record 14.3 seconds.
Weinberg was again chosen to represent Australia, this time at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki
, in his specialty, the 110 metres Hurdles, and also the 4 x 100 metre relay, the 4 x 400 metre relay and the decathlon. He limited his efforts to the hurdles and relay duties, deciding that also competing in the decathlon, where he was the Victorian Recordholder, was too big a programme.
In the semi-finals of the 110 metres hurdles, he drew Lane 6 which was where the rain water from the grandstand's cantilever roof emptied, making the lane soggy and treacherous. He made the final and unfortunately drew Lane 6 again. He started well with the fancied Americans, but "murdered" the first hurdle and finished 6th. The next Australian male to make an Olympic 110 metres Hurdles Final was Kyle Vander Kuyp
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, 44 years later.
As part of the lead-up to the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki, he competed in the British A.A.A. Championships and won the 120 yards hurdles in British All-comers Record of 14.4 seconds. This stood as the best time for the Championships for 6 years. He was presented with his trophy by Queen Elizabeth.
Competing in his third Olympic Games
was not to be. In 1956 his home base of Melbourne was to host the XVI Summer Olympics, however he was suffering from a debilitating eye complaint which required both his eyes to be bandaged - not ideal for a 110m. hurdler.
|-
! Olympic Games
! Event
! Phase
! Place
! Time ( Hand )
|-
| 1948 London || 110m. Hurdles || Semi-Final || 5th ||
|-
| 1952 Helsinki || 110m. Hurdles || Final || 6th ||14.8
|-
| || 4 x 100m. Relay || Round One || 5th || 42.3
|-
| || 4 x 400m. Relay || Round One || 5th || 3.15.8
|-
| ||Decathlon || || Did Not Compete
|}
Selection of Australian Olympic Games teams for the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics was, initially, based on a ranking per Olympic sport of its potentially most successful athletes. From there the Australian Olympic Federation ( AOF ) collated the sports' rankings and then made an overall ranking, rather than by sport, of the potentially most successful athletes. For instance, in 1948, Joyce King
and Shirley Strickland
( both from athletics) were ranked 1st. and 2nd. of all athletes from all the sports that were presented to the AOF. Unlike selection for current Australian Olympic teams, the AOF announced that it could fund a specific number of athletes per its ranking assessment and, those ranked lower than this cut-off, would have to raise the funds to send the next ranked athlete and so on. . Of the 29 swimmers and 10 water polo players nominated by Australian Swimming Union, just four would have their fares paid, unless they could raise the necessary funds themselves. The financially strapped AOF decided that the 1948 Olympic team would return steerage class by steamer rather than by airplane - a fare of £69 compared to £375 by air.
He was appointed Coach of the Australian Athletics Team for the 1968 Summer Olympics
at Mexico City
, a 25 person team who won 7 medals between them. On the death of the Athletics Team manager, Jim Howlin, Weinberg also took over management of the team, which was in Mexico City for 6 weeks to acclimatise to the high altitude.
Weinberg's team included Gold Medalists Ralph Doubell
and Maureen Caird
. He was also involved in the aftermath of Black Power salute
during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200 metres where Australian, Peter Norman
had run second.
From his performance as Coach, and also taking on the Team Manager's role, at the 1968 Summer Olympics it seemed that Weinberg would definitely be named as Coach for the 1972 Summer Olympics
. As Australian Coach of the 1970 Pacific Conference Games team, his qualifications were even strengthened, and it was a major shock when interstate politics between the various state athletic associations stymied his selection.
part of The TEN Network Australia where he was a commentator on the TV station's coverage of the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
. This led to being part of ATV-10's live-to-air sports show and then a position in advertising sales.
He moved from advertising sales to media planning and buying and joined multinational advertising agency Masius and from there successfully had other agency and media roles.
In 1980, he joined The Seven Network's commentary team to cover the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow
. These games were very controversial, as the U.S. and some other countries had joined in an Olympic boycott in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. There was public and political pressure for Australia to join the Olympic boycott and so Seven's coverage was more limited than it may have been otherwise. This meant commentators doubling-up on events and sports that may not have been their areas of expertise, so he commentated on weightlifting as well as athletics.
, the then Governor of Victoria.
He was also honoured by Athletics Australia
as a Life Member.
it was very apparent that the Australian team was "under-outfitted" in many ways, compared to other countries' teams. Many other teams had special national Olympic team lapel pins, which were all the rage and became almost "currency" during the Games, and with collectors thereafter.
Fortunate enough to be chosen to represent his country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, he used the experience he had gained, and created, designed and had manufactured, the first Australian Olympic lapel pin. His design of kangaroo, above the word "Australia", and the Olympic rings, has been copied by numerous Australian Olympic teams that have followed.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 1926 in the country town of Alexandra
Alexandra, Victoria
Alexandra is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway and Maroondah Highway , 26 kilometres west of Eildon, in the Shire of Murrindindi local government area...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
) is a former 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 athlete and coach. He was one of Australia's finest hurdlers, being ranked in the Top 8 in the world for 4 years; an Olympic finalist; in 1952 having the fastest time in the world for 220 yards hurdles; and holding the national 110 metres hurdles record for 20 years. He also held the Victorian record in the decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
. In addition, he created, designed and had manufactured, the first Australian Olympic lapel pin.
Early Life and Family
He attended Trinity Grammar School, where he was Captain of the School in 1944, as well as Captain of Football, Captain of Athletics, Captain of Swimming, Captain of Shooting and Captain of Lacrosse. He tried out with Victorian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
club, Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
but was convinced by his father to concentrate on athletics.
He married Shirley Ogle, Victorian state sprint champion and record holder. After they were married, they moved to Victorian country town Kerang, 200 kilometres north-west of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
where he ran his parents' hotel, The Commercial Hotel, for over 20 years. This move necessitated training by himself, usually at the local Kerang airport (KRA
Kerang Airport
Kerang Airport is located at Kerang, Victoria, Australia....
) after closing the bar at his hotel. Weekend competition meant a 400+ kilometre round trip to Olympic Park in Melbourne.
He and Shirley have three children.
Athletic career
From the 1947-48 season to 1952-53 season, Weinberg won 5 National 120 yards hurdles championships, and in both 1946-47 and 1948-49 was second. In February 1952 he set the Australian Record for the 120 yards hurdles of 14.0 seconds, which stood until March 1972 when Mal Baird broke it, running 13.8 seconds. He held the Australian 120 yards and 110 metres Hurdles records on four separate occasions.From the 1948-49 season to 1952-53, he won the National 220 yards hurdles championships twice ( 1950-51 24.0 seconds and 1951-52 23.8 seconds ) and was second in two other years. In 1952, he held the fastest time in the world that year for the 220 yards hurdles. And was ranked in the Top 10 in the World over 110 metres hurdles in 1950 (6th), 1951 (8th), 1952 (6th) and 1953 (7th).
Weinberg was chosen to compete in the Australian Olympic Team for the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was ranked 23rd choice overall of athletes chosen by all sports, and sixth in the athletic team. The trip from Sydney to London was a five day flight with each evening spent on the ground.
He made the Semi Final finishing 5th, just out of a qualifying place for the final, the winners running an Olympic Record time.
His trip home was on the S.S. Orantes, and shared the voyage with the returning Bradman
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
's Invincibles
The Invincibles (cricket)
The Australian cricket team in England in 1948 was captained by Don Bradman, who was making his fourth and final tour of England. The team is famous for being the first Test match side to play an entire tour of England without losing a match. This feat earned them the nickname of The Invincibles,...
.
He was chosen in the Australian team to compete at the 1950 Commonwealth Games in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
where he finished second in 14.4 seconds to Australian Peter Gardner who ran a Games Record 14.3 seconds.
Weinberg was again chosen to represent Australia, this time at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, in his specialty, the 110 metres Hurdles, and also the 4 x 100 metre relay, the 4 x 400 metre relay and the decathlon. He limited his efforts to the hurdles and relay duties, deciding that also competing in the decathlon, where he was the Victorian Recordholder, was too big a programme.
In the semi-finals of the 110 metres hurdles, he drew Lane 6 which was where the rain water from the grandstand's cantilever roof emptied, making the lane soggy and treacherous. He made the final and unfortunately drew Lane 6 again. He started well with the fancied Americans, but "murdered" the first hurdle and finished 6th. The next Australian male to make an Olympic 110 metres Hurdles Final was Kyle Vander Kuyp
Kyle Vander Kuyp
Kyle Vander Kuyp is an indigenous Australian athlete of the [Worimi & Yuin ] tribe of North and South Coast NSW...
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, 44 years later.
As part of the lead-up to 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, he competed in the British A.A.A. Championships and won the 120 yards hurdles in British All-comers Record of 14.4 seconds. This stood as the best time for the Championships for 6 years. He was presented with his trophy by Queen Elizabeth.
Competing in his third Olympic Games
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...
was not to be. In 1956 his home base of Melbourne was to host the XVI Summer Olympics, however he was suffering from a debilitating eye complaint which required both his eyes to be bandaged - not ideal for a 110m. hurdler.
Olympic Games Results
-
-
-
- {| class="wikitable"
-
-
|-
! Olympic Games
! Event
! Phase
! Place
! Time ( Hand )
|-
| 1948 London || 110m. Hurdles || Semi-Final || 5th ||
|-
| 1952 Helsinki || 110m. Hurdles || Final || 6th ||14.8
|-
| || 4 x 100m. Relay || Round One || 5th || 42.3
|-
| || 4 x 400m. Relay || Round One || 5th || 3.15.8
|-
| ||Decathlon || || Did Not Compete
|}
Selection of Australian Olympic Games teams for the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics was, initially, based on a ranking per Olympic sport of its potentially most successful athletes. From there the Australian Olympic Federation ( AOF ) collated the sports' rankings and then made an overall ranking, rather than by sport, of the potentially most successful athletes. For instance, in 1948, Joyce King
Joyce King
Joyce A. King was an Australian sprinter. She was born in Sydney.In 1948, she won the Australian national championships over 100 yards and 220 yards....
and Shirley Strickland
Shirley Strickland
Shirley Barbara Strickland AO, MBE , later Shirley de la Hunty, was an Australian athlete. She won more Olympic medals than any other Australian in running sports.-Family:...
( both from athletics) were ranked 1st. and 2nd. of all athletes from all the sports that were presented to the AOF. Unlike selection for current Australian Olympic teams, the AOF announced that it could fund a specific number of athletes per its ranking assessment and, those ranked lower than this cut-off, would have to raise the funds to send the next ranked athlete and so on. . Of the 29 swimmers and 10 water polo players nominated by Australian Swimming Union, just four would have their fares paid, unless they could raise the necessary funds themselves. The financially strapped AOF decided that the 1948 Olympic team would return steerage class by steamer rather than by airplane - a fare of £69 compared to £375 by air.
Coaching career
Work commitments limited his coaching to more of a sought-after "technique consultant" to many of Australia's top hurdlers during the 1960s and 1970s. When time allowed he would also giving technique coaching to young athletes and at schools, all for free.He was appointed Coach of the Australian Athletics Team for the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
at Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, a 25 person team who won 7 medals between them. On the death of the Athletics Team manager, Jim Howlin, Weinberg also took over management of the team, which was in Mexico City for 6 weeks to acclimatise to the high altitude.
Weinberg's team included Gold Medalists Ralph Doubell
Ralph Doubell
Ralph Douglas Doubell AM is an Australian former athlete, and gold medallist at the 1968 Summer Olympics.-Biography:...
and Maureen Caird
Maureen Caird
Maureen Caird is a former Australian track athlete, who specialised in the sprint hurdles. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, she became the youngest-ever individual Olympic athletics champion, at age 17, when she won gold in Mexico City.-Early career:Born in Cumberland, New South Wales, Caird began...
. He was also involved in the aftermath of Black Power salute
1968 Olympics Black Power salute
The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute involved the African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the Black power salute at the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City...
during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200 metres where Australian, Peter Norman
Peter Norman
Peter George Norman was an Australian track athlete best known for winning the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. His time of 20.06 seconds still stands as the Australian 200m record. He was a five-time Australian 200m champion...
had run second.
From his performance as Coach, and also taking on the Team Manager's role, at the 1968 Summer Olympics it seemed that Weinberg would definitely be named as Coach for the 1972 Summer Olympics
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....
. As Australian Coach of the 1970 Pacific Conference Games team, his qualifications were even strengthened, and it was a major shock when interstate politics between the various state athletic associations stymied his selection.
Media career
His media career began with ATV-0, now ATV-10ATV-10
ATV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia, part of Network Ten - one of the three major Australian commercial television networks.-History:...
part of The TEN Network Australia where he was a commentator on the TV station's coverage of the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. This led to being part of ATV-10's live-to-air sports show and then a position in advertising sales.
He moved from advertising sales to media planning and buying and joined multinational advertising agency Masius and from there successfully had other agency and media roles.
In 1980, he joined The Seven Network's commentary team to cover 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...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. These games were very controversial, as the U.S. and some other countries had joined in an Olympic boycott in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. There was public and political pressure for Australia to join the Olympic boycott and so Seven's coverage was more limited than it may have been otherwise. This meant commentators doubling-up on events and sports that may not have been their areas of expertise, so he commentated on weightlifting as well as athletics.
Awards and Recognition
On 12 June 2005, in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, he was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, for "services to athletics through administrative roles, and as a competitor". The Honour was presented by his former team mate and life-long friend, John LandyJohn Landy
John Michael Landy, AC, CVO, MBE is an Australian former Olympic track athlete. He was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run, and he held the world records for the 1500 metre run and the mile race...
, the then Governor of Victoria.
He was also honoured by Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia is the National Sporting Organisation recognised by the Australian Sports Commission for the sport of athletics in Australia....
as a Life Member.
The First Australian Olympic Lapel Pin
When Weinberg was a competitor in the 1948 Summer Olympics1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
it was very apparent that the Australian team was "under-outfitted" in many ways, compared to other countries' teams. Many other teams had special national Olympic team lapel pins, which were all the rage and became almost "currency" during the Games, and with collectors thereafter.
Fortunate enough to be chosen to represent his country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, he used the experience he had gained, and created, designed and had manufactured, the first Australian Olympic lapel pin. His design of kangaroo, above the word "Australia", and the Olympic rings, has been copied by numerous Australian Olympic teams that have followed.
See also
- Shirley OgleShirley Ogle (athlete)Shirley Ogle in Victoria) is a former Australian athlete who competed in the 100 yards and 220 yards and other sprint distances. She held numerous state and national women's sprint records, and at the 1947 Victorian Athletics Championships won all four sprint events, 75 yards through to 440...
- Shirley Weinberg
- Olympic medalists in athleticsOlympic medalists in athletics (men)This is the complete list of men's Olympic medalists in athletics from 1896 to 2008.- 100 metres :- 200 metres :- 400 metres :- 800 metres :- 1500 metres :- 5000 metres :- 10,000 metres :- Marathon :...
- Ray Weinberg SR/Olympic Sports
- Australia and The Olympic Games by Harry Gordon
- The Complete Book of the Olympics by David Wallechinsky