Edwin Flack

Edwin Flack
Personal information
Full nameEdwin Harold Flack
NicknameTeddy
NationalityAustralian
Born(1873-11-05)5 November 1873
Islington, London, England
Died10 January 1935(1935-01-10) (aged 61)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sport
Sport
  • Athletics
  • tennis
Medal record
Olympic Games
Men's athletics
Representing  Australia (AUS)
1896 Athens800 metres
1896 Athens1500 metres
Men's tennis
Representing a Mixed team
1896 AthensDoubles

Edwin Harold Flack (5 November 1873 – 10 January 1935) was an Australian athlete and tennis player. Also known as "Teddy", he was Australia's first Olympian, being its only representative in 1896, and the first Olympic champion in the 800 metres and the 1500 metres running events.

Following Flack's Olympic appearance, he did not compete in any large events again, opting to breed cattle and help his family's accounting firm. Flack died aged 61 following an operation, and was buried in his hometown of Berwick. He is commemorated in that way. A bronze statue of him stands on High Street, and a reserve bearing his name includes several sporting grounds, honoring his legacy and contributions to sports. Flack was also inducted into the Sport Australia and Athletics Australia halls of fame in 1985 and 2000, respectively.