Norman Richard Read (13 August 1931 – 22 May 1994) was a New Zealand

racewalker Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Race judges carefully asse ...

. Born in

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city status in the United Kingdom, city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is admi ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

, Read emigrated to New Zealand in 1953. The self-proclaimed "Pommie-Kiwi" competed for New Zealand at the 1956 Olympics in the 50 km walk where he won the gold medal. For this achievement he was voted New Zealand’s Sportsman of the Year. Read also took part in the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, finishing fifth in the 20 km walk and abandoning the 50 km race. He won a bronze medal in the 20 mile walk at the

1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 4 to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions. They were followed by the 1966 Commonwealth Para ...

in Kingston, Jamaica, which was his last international tournament. Read continued competing domestically for another 18 years, retiring at the age 52. He won 18 national titles, placing second thrice and third four times. On 29 August 1968 Read married Megan Ann Crafar in

Whangārei Whangārei () is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. It is part of the Whangārei District, a local body created in 1989 from the former Whangārei City, Whangārei County and Hikurangi Town counc ...

; they had three daughters and a son. After moving to

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. Th ...

, he founded New Zealand’s first race walking club. At the

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

he became only the second New Zealand Olympic judge. He was awarded a diploma by the International Amateur Athletic Federation on its 75th anniversary in 1987, and in 1990 he was elected a foundation member of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. Read was also one of the first three inductees into the Taranaki Sports Hall of Fame at the Taranaki Sports Awards in 2009. Read died of a heart attack during a veteran's bike race in

Pirongia Pirongia is a small town in the Waipa District of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is 12 kilometres to the west of Te Awamutu, on the banks of the Waipā River, close to the foot of the 962 metre Mount Pirongia, which lies i ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Read, Norman 1931 births 1994 deaths Sportspeople from Portsmouth New Zealand male racewalkers Olympic gold medalists for New Zealand Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes for New Zealand Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics English emigrants to New Zealand Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Medallists at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games