When the 1924 Australian Olympic team set off for Paris, three Old Melburnians were among them: Denis (aka Dennis) Duigan (OM 1920), Charlie Lane (OM 1923), and Jack Newman (OM 1921).
However, the journey was fraught with challenges. Originally scheduled to travel on the steamer Omar, an accident damaged the ship’s propeller prior to departure, necessitating a change of transport.
The 34 male athletes and the supporting staff eventually departed on the mail steamer Ormonde on 30 April 1924, expecting to arrive in Toulon, France on 7 June and then travel to Paris for the Games from there. Unfortunately, their plans were disrupted.
During the ocean journey, an Australian coach, a WWI Western Front survivor likely suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, jumped overboard into the Arabian Sea. The ship turned around to rescue him, and the sudden stoppage of the engines damaged the ship’s turbines. This required a four-day repair delay at the nearby port of Aden, Yemen.
The team finally arrived in Toulon on 11 June, then travelled over 800 km by train to reach Paris on 13 June, completing their journey of more than six weeks.
The Opening Ceremony of the 1924 Paris Olympic Games was held on 5 July, three weeks after their arrival.
Denis Duigan (OM 1920)
Denis Duigan was Australia’s first Olympic decathlete. He also competed in the pentathlon at the 1924 Games.
An outstanding athlete at school, Denis was a member of Premiership First XVIII teams in 1919 and 1920, and the Premiership Athletics and First XI teams in 1920.
His experience at the Olympic Games began with promise but was soon marred by unfamiliarity with the athletic grounds. Competing in the one-day pentathlon, Denis finished 10th, and two days later, he was performing well in the decathlon until an injury forced him out.
“It is very important that the length of spikes be greatly shorter for most events run on cinder tracks, as compared with grass tracks, especially the jumps. Not having my spikes shortened for the high jump I tore my ankle ligaments,” Denis wrote.
Despite this setback, Denis reflected on his Olympic experience as an invaluable adventure. “There is a good deal more to the Olympic Games than one might first imagine and I was very thankful for the chance given to me to meet so many notable persons, see such interesting sights and above all to see collected for the sake of sport so many fine men, 3000 in all from 45 nations. I shall never forget the parade before the opening of the Games as long as I live.”
Charlie Lane (OM 1923)
Charlie Lane was one of 60 competitors in the 400m event at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games.
He finished third in his heat and was eliminated at that point. The Melburnian 1924, vol 49 reports that “he ran a splendid race … and should have won his heat in very fast time. He looked round, however, and was beaten on the post.”
Charlie’s time of 51.4s was well below his personal best of 49.9s recorded the year before. The gold medal time at that Olympic Games was 47.6s.
He was recognised for his athletic prowess at school, setting new records in the 220 yards and quarter mile races at the Combined School Sports in 1923. His performances in these and the 100 yards race were a major contributor to Melbourne Grammar being crowned Athletics champions in 1923.
Charlie was also a member of the Premiership First XVIII in 1923.
Jack Newman (OM 1921)
Apart from the problems arising while travelling to the Games, Jack Newman was lucky to make it onto the ship at all.
The Melburnian 1924, vol 49 reports that he was unable to compete in the Victorian and Australasian athletic championships due to injury, and so missed selection for the Olympic team. However, such was the confidence in his ability, at the last moment a movement was initiated [apparently by Old Melburnians] to have him included in the team, and this was done. The Old Melburnians raised £160 (around $16,000 in today’s terms) in under a week towards his expenses.
However, his injury continued to plague him in Paris, and he finished seventh in his heat of the 800m and fifth in his 1500m heat so did not qualify for the final in either event.
Jack was Captain of the School’s Athletics team that won the 1921 Combined Sports Championships. He beat Combined Sports Mile record time at that event and also won the (individual) Open Championship Cup based on his performance in nine athletics events.
You can view a list of all Melbourne Grammar School Olympians here.
