Murray Spencer Cheater (26 January 1947 – 4 August 2020) was a New Zealand
hammer thrower who represented his country at the
1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 Phi ...
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Biography
Born in
Auckland on 26 January 1947, Cheater was the son of Robert Walter Cheater and Joycene Verona Cheater (née Clarke).
His father later served as president of Athletics Auckland between 1964 and 1966.
Initially competing for the Papatoetoe Athletic Club, Cheater moved to
Rotorua
Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompass ...
in the mid-1970s, becoming a member of the Rotorua Athletic Club, later the Lake City Athletic Club.
He won the New Zealand national men's hammer throw title on ten occasions: every year from 1974 to 1984, except in 1980. He broke the New Zealand record for the event 16 times, recording his personal best of 71.20 m in January 1976.
Cheater represented New Zealand in the hammer throw at the
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games ( mi, 1974 Taumāhekeheke Commonwealth) were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. The Games were off ...
in
Christchurch, where he finished fifth with a best throw of 65.82 m. Two years later, he competed in the
men's hammer throw at the 1976 Summer Olympics, recording a best throw of 67.38 m in the qualifying round, to finish in 16th place and not progress to the final.
Cheater operated a contracting business in Rotorua.
He died in Rotorua on 4 August 2020.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheater, Murray
1947 births
2020 deaths
Athletes (track and field) at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
Athletes (track and field) at the 1976 Summer Olympics
New Zealand male hammer throwers
Olympic athletes for New Zealand
Athletes from Auckland
Commonwealth Games competitors for New Zealand
20th-century New Zealand people
21st-century New Zealand people