Ed de Noorlander

Dutch all-round track and field athlete Ed de Noorlander competed during the 1960s, winning four national titles in three events. In 1965 de Noorlander won two Dutch titles when he became the national champion in both the high jump and the decathlon. His victory in the high jump also set a Dutch record that stood until 1967. He won two more titles in 1968 with another in the decathlon, along with becoming the Dutch 110 metres hurdles champion. His performances earned him a place on the Olympic team for the 1968 Mexico City Games where he came ninth in the decathlon. One year later, however, de Noorlander’s career ended early over a dispute regarding a positive drug test for amphetamine. After months of legal wrangling and challenges, his suspension was lifted after it was found the substance was a by-product of medication used to treat asthma. He made a return to international competitions in the early 1970s, participating at the 1971 European Championships in Helsinki and finishing second in the decathlon at a meet in København in 1973.

Personal Best: Dec – 7478 (1971).