Bill de Gruchy

For the VFL footballer who played for Geelong, see Bill de Gruchy (footballer).

Bill de Gruchy
Personal information
Birth nameWilliam de Gruchy
Born(1930-05-10)10 May 1930
Sport
SportAthletics
EventSprinting
Medal record
Representing  Australia
British Empire Games
Gold medal – first place 1950 Auckland 4 × 110 y relay
Silver medal – second place 1950 Auckland 100 yards

William de Gruchy (born 10 May 1930) is an Australian former athlete who specialised in sprinting.

Biography

A Western Australian athlete, de Gruchy was raised in the Perth suburb of Mount Hawthorn.[1]

De Gruchy studied at both St Patrick's Boys' School and Aquinas College in Perth.[1]

In 1950, de Gruchy represented Australia at the British Empire Games in Auckland, where he won a silver medal in the 100 yard sprint and was a member of the gold medal-winning 4 × 110 yards relay team.[2]

De Gruchy won the national 100 yard sprint title for the only time in 1951, edging three-time champion John Treloar.[3] He was overlooked in favour of John Treloar for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.[4]

At the 1952 WA state championships, de Gruchy ran the 100 yard sprint in a wind assisted 9.6 seconds.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sprinter With a Future". Western Mail. 24 February 1949. p. 21.
  2. ^ "Aust. Ends Games In Blaze Of Glory". Sunday Times (Perth). 12 February 1950. p. 22 (Sports).
  3. ^ "Bill de Gruchy Becomes Australia's New Sprint Champion". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). 4 March 1951. p. 8 (Sports).
  4. ^ "More on Bill de Gruchy". The Daily News (Perth). 3 March 1952. p. 4 (Final). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Bill De Gruchy Runs Fastest 100 Yards Of Career". Sunday Times (Perth). 17 February 1952. p. 20 (Sports).

See also