12 Facts About Malcolm Champion

Malcolm Eadie Champion was New Zealand's first Olympic gold medallist, and the first swimmer to represent New Zealand at an Olympic Games.

Malcolm Champion's father Captain William Nihill Champion was a sea captain who traded around the Pacific.

Malcolm Champion later worked on his father's ships and by the end of the 19th century was living in Auckland.

Malcolm Champion died on 26 July 1939 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Between 1901 and 1914, Malcolm Champion won thirty-two New Zealand national titles, at one point holding the titles for every distance between 220 yards and one mile.

Malcolm Champion's suspension has often wrongly been called a life ban for professionalism.

Malcolm Champion had represented Australasia at the 1911 Festival of Empire at The Crystal Palace, an early forerunner to the Commonwealth Games, where he pulled out of the mile race.

At the Olympics, Malcolm Champion carried the flag for the Australasian team.

Malcolm Champion was originally slated to compete in the 400 m and 1500 m freestyle events.

Malcolm Champion finished second in his 400 m heat behind Harold Hardwick and before finishing fourth in his semi-final to be eliminated.

Malcolm Champion was New Zealand's only Olympic gold medalist in swimming until 1996, when Danyon Loader won in the 200 m and 400 m freestyle events at the Atlanta Olympics.

In 1990 Malcolm Champion became an inaugural inductee into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.