Cecil Healy Tribute
by Philip Barker
Australian Olympians Michelle Ford and Kaarle McCulloch have laid floral tributes at the grave of 1912 Olympic swimming gold medallist Cecil Healy who was killed on the battlefields of the Somme in 1918 only 73 days before the first world war came to an end.
Healy was a second lieutenant in the 19th (Sportsman’s) Battalion. He had died from machine gun fire.
He was buried at a war cemetery in the small French village of Assevillers, some 130 kilometres North of Paris.
“The local community were there at the graveside watching us lay the wreath” said Australian team deputy Chef de Mission McCulloch, herself a cycling bronze medalist in 2012.
“What a tragedy that he lost his life at a young age with the First World War coming to an end. What stands out is his leadership, his bravery and his sportsmanship. Accounts of his life paint a vivid picture of a great Australian who lived his Olympic values.”
McCulloch was joined by Ford who had won 800m freestyle gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
“I wanted to be part of this today to join the Australian Olympic Committee and recognise someone who really stood for all the Olympic values,” said Ford.
Healy had been a lifeguard and a founder member of the surf club in the Sydney suburb of Manly. He had also been a leading figure in developing freestyle technique.
He won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, but is also remembered for an act of sportsmanship.
After his American rival Duke Kahanamoku had missed the 100m freestyle semi-finals because of an error by team administrators, Healy insisted that the Americans be given a chance to compete.
As a consequence of this act, Kahanamoku won gold and Healy silver.
“Healy is an Australian sports hero, a swimming icon as well as a war hero.
He had that desire to save lives, he wanted to do more and he was commissioned as a second lieutenant so that he could lead his comrades from the front,” said Australian Army Liaison Officer in France, Lieutenant Colonel Dean Kachab.
Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Australian Prime Minister, Ambassador to France Gillian Bird and Assevillers Mayor Didier Jacob also attended the Ceremony.
They also visited a statue erected in his memory.
Jacob also received a copy of a biography of Healy written by Olympic champion Jon Devitt and Larry Writer.
There are no comments published yet.