Australia’s First Olympian: Edwin Flack

Edwin Flack was the only Australian athlete to participate in the first Olympic Games of the modern era, held in Athens in 1896, in which he won both the 800 metres and 1500 metres running races, came third in the doubles tennis and competed in the marathon event. He accomplished this as an independent athlete; Australia was not a federated nation until 1901 and did not send an official team.

Edwin Flack was born in London, England. The family migrated to Australia in 1874 and settled in Melbourne, where he attended Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. After leaving school in 1892, he joined the family accountancy firm and in 1895 was sent to London for further training as an accountant with his father’s old firm, Price, Waterhouse and Co. (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). While in London, Flack continued his interest in running, winning races and gaining valuable preparation for the Olympic Games in Athens.

In the Panathenaic Stadium on the opening day of the Games, the 22-year-old Flack won his first race, the first heat of the 800 metres. On the second day he won the 1500 metres final and on the fourth day he earned his second first-place medal, winning the 800 metres. Flack also competed in the tennis singles and doubles, placing third in the doubles. At these first Games, medals were only awarded for first (silver) and second (bronze) place. Flack ran the marathon event just a day after his victory in the 800 metres final. He was in the lead, but just three kilometres before the finish, collapsed, exhausted, and had to complete the distance by carriage.

After his Olympic triumphs, Flack returned to Australia, becoming senior partner at Flack and Flack accounting firm (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), where he remained until his death in 1935. He never raced again but became a member of the Australian Olympic Committee and was in the first delegation to attend the International Olympic Committee Congress in 1914. Edwin Flack never married. He died in 1935 at the age of 61 following an operation and his ashes were interred at Berwick Cemetery. He has purchased a property at Berwick some years previously, where he bred Friesian cattle.

In 1985, Edwin Flack was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and in 2000, the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame. Flack’s generous estate has benefited many charitable and welfare organisations, hospitals and research funds. Named for Flack and his sister, the Marian and E.H. Flack Trust was constituted after Flack’s death in 1935. It has supported many charities since its inception and continues to do so.