The Australian sporting community is mourning the loss of two-time Olympian and distance running icon Kerry O'Brien, who has died at the age of 79 following a four-year illness.
A Stellar Athletics Career
Kerry O'Brien's rise to sporting fame was meteoric. As a 20-year-old from South Australia, he burst onto the international stage at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, where he placed a remarkable fourth in the gruelling 3000m steeplechase.
His prowess in the steeplechase was undeniable. Just two years prior, in 1966, he had already secured a Commonwealth Games silver medal in the same event. This discipline became his signature, with O'Brien holding the world record for two years in the early 1970s. His state record stood for an incredible 54 years, only being broken last year.
His Olympic journey continued at the 1972 Munich Games, and he also represented Australia at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. O'Brien was a two-time Pacific Conference Games gold medallist and clinched an impressive nine Australian titles across steeplechase, 5000m, and cross country before retiring in 1973.
Legacy Beyond the Track
O'Brien's influence extended far beyond the athletics oval. He was also a successful horse breeder, making a significant mark on the Australian racing industry. His all-round sporting character made him a revered figure.
In 2014, his contributions were formally recognised with his induction into the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame. Broadcasting legend Bruce McAvaney, a close follower of both athletics and racing, hailed O'Brien as a personal role model and a giant of South Australian sport.
"He was the absolute star of South Australian athletics," McAvaney told the Adelaide Advertiser. "If Kerry was doing that today, he'd be the biggest star in Australian sport."
Remembering a Sporting Pioneer
Born in Quorn in 1946, O'Brien later moved to Port Augusta. He is survived by his partner Juliet and his three daughters, Danielle, Kate, and Shannon.
The passing of Kerry O'Brien marks the end of an era for Australian middle-distance running. He is remembered not just for his records and medals, but as a pioneering athlete whose dedication and success helped shape the nation's sporting landscape.
