Ray Weinberg

He was ranked 23rd choice overall of athletes chosen by all sports, and sixth in the athletic team.

The trip from Sydney to London was a five-day flight with each evening spent on the ground.

He made the semi-final finishing 5th, just out of a qualifying place for the final, the winners running an Olympic Record time.

His trip home was on the S.S. Orantes, and he shared the voyage with the returning Bradman's Invincibles.

Raymond Henry Weinberg AM (23 October 1926 - 30 May 2018) was an Australian athlete and coach.

Born on 23 October 1926 in the country town of Alexandra, Victoria, Weinberg attended Trinity Grammar School, where he was Captain of the School in 1944, as well as Captain of Football, Captain of Athletics, Captain of Swimming, Captain of Shooting and Captain of Lacrosse.

He tried out with Victorian Football League club, Carlton but was convinced by his father to concentrate on athletics.

He married Shirley Ogle, Victorian state sprint champion and record holder.

After they were married, they moved to Victorian country town Kerang, 200 kilometres north-west of Melbourne where he ran his parents' hotel, The Commercial Hotel, for over 20 years.

This move necessitated training by himself, usually at the local Kerang airport (KRA) after closing the bar at his hotel.

Weekend competition meant a 400+ kilometre round trip to Olympic Park in Melbourne.

Weinberg started his athletics career in 1945 with the St Stephens Harriers.

From the 1947–48 season to 1952–53 season, Weinberg won 5 National 120 yards hurdles championships, and in both 1946-47 and 1948-49 was second.

He also the South Australian short hurdles cham[pion in 1948.

From the 1948–49 season to 1952–53, he won the National 220 yards hurdles championships twice (1950-51 24.0 seconds and 1951-52 23.8 seconds) and was second in two other years.

Weinberg was chosen to compete in the Australian Olympic Team for the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London.

And was ranked in the Top 10 in the World over 110 metres hurdles in 1950 (6th), 1951 (8th), 1952 (6th) and 1953 (7th).

He was chosen in the Australian team to compete at the 1950 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, where he finished second in 14.4 seconds to Australian Peter Gardner who ran a Games record 14.3 seconds.

He was one of Australia's finest hurdlers, being ranked in the Top 8 in the world for 4 years; an Olympic finalist; in 1952 having the fastest time in the world for 220 yards hurdles; and holding the national 110 metres hurdles record for 20 years.

He also held the Victorian record in the decathlon.

In addition, he created, designed and had manufactured the first Australian Olympic lapel pin.

In February 1952 he set the Australian Record for the 120 yards hurdles of 14.0 seconds, which stood until March 1972 when Mal Baird broke it, running 13.8 seconds.

He held the Australian 120 yards and 110 metres Hurdles records on four occasions.

In 1952, he held the fastest time in the world that year for the 220 yards hurdles.

Weinberg was again chosen to represent Australia, this time at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, in his specialty, the 110 metres Hurdles, and also the 4 × 100-metre relay, the 4 × 400-metre relay and the decathlon.

He limited his efforts to the hurdles and relay duties, deciding that also competing in the decathlon, where he was the Victorian record holder, was too big a programme.

In the semi-finals of the 110 metres hurdles, he drew Lane 6 which was where the rain water from the grandstand's cantilever roof emptied, making the lane soggy and treacherous.

He made the final and unfortunately drew Lane 6 again.

He started well with the fancied Americans, but "murdered" the first hurdle and finished 6th.

He and Shirley had three children - Raymond Brett (1953), Michelle Louise (1955) and Timothy David (1961).

He was Victorian champion on nine occasions - with six victories in the 120 yards hurdles, one each over 220 yards and 440 yards hurdles and in 1953 in the decathlon.

In 1956 his home base of Melbourne was to host the XVI Summer Olympics, however he was suffering from a debilitating eye complaint which required both his eyes to be bandaged.

! Olympic Games

! Event

! Phase

The next Australian male to make an Olympic 110 metres Hurdles Final was Kyle Vander Kuyp at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 years later.

As part of the lead-up to the Helsinki Olympics, he competed in the British A.A.A. Championships and won the 120 yards hurdles in British All-comers Record of 14.4 seconds.

This stood as the best time for the Championships for 6 years.

He was presented with his trophy by Queen Elizabeth.

Competing in his third Olympic Games was not to be.