Born in India to Irish and American parents, Robert Hallaran moved to California in 1918 and became a naturalized citizen only at the age of 22. One year later, he married the daughter of a wealthy oilman and set his sights on a career in the movies. It was during this time that he represented Canada in swimming at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, despite not having any known connection to that country previously. At the Games, he was eliminated in the first round of the 100 metres freestyle and backstroke. His pursuit of a film career eventually cost him his marriage, but he was unable to find any work in this – or any – field during the Great Depression. He was still unemployed when he committed suicide in 1936, at the age of only 29, by jumping out of the fourth-floor window of his Ohio home. His father, William, represented Ireland in rugby union under the pseudonym “R.O.N. Hall” in 1884 and was killed during World War I. His older brother, Charles, represented Ireland 15 times during the 1920s in the same sport and was killed during World War II.
Canada