Wilfrid Kent Hughes

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameWilfrid Selwyn•Kent Hughes
Used nameWilfrid•Kent Hughes
Born12 June 1895 in East Melbourne, Victoria (AUS)
Died30 July 1970 in Kew, Victoria (AUS)
AffiliationsUniversity of Oxford, Oxford (GBR)
NOC Australia

Biography

After fighting at Gallipoli, Wilfrid Kent Hughes went to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in 1919. He represented Australia in the 110 hurdles at the 1920 Olympics and finished second in the 880 for Oxford vs. Cambridge in 1921. He also won a blue for lacrosse (1921-22) and reached the final of the AAA 440y hurdles for three successive years (1920-22), winning in 1922. On his return to Australia, he built a flourishing business empire and became a prominent politician, serving as a lower house member from 1949-1970, and a minister from 1951-1955. In World War II he won an MC before being interned by the Japanese and in 1956 he was knighted for his work as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Melbourne Olympic Games.

Personal Bests: 110H – unknown; 400H – 57.2 (1920).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1920 Summer Olympics Athletics AUS Wilfrid Kent Hughes
110 metres Hurdles, Men (Olympic) 4 h1 r1/3
400 metres Hurdles, Men (Olympic) 5 h1 r2/3

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
Chairman Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVI Olympiad Melbourne 1956 —1957 AUS Wilfrid Kent Hughes

Special Notes