Bob Tisdall : Short Biography

Bob Tisdall was born on the 16th of May in 1907 in Sri Lanka, which was then known as Ceylon. When he was five years old, his Irish parents brought him to his mother's home of Nenagh, County Tipperary where he was raised. 

As a young man, Bob's prowess as an athlete was noted in his speed on the Rugby field. He was educated at Cambridge University where he competed in a number of athletics events, including hurdles, long jumps, and shot put. Although he excelled at all of these events, it was as a hurdler that he would make a name for himself. In 1930 he competed in the Irish Athletics Championships which was held in Croke Park. At this event he won the 120 yard hurdles. In 1932 he won the national title in the 440 yard and 120 yard events. These wins led to Bob boarding a ship bound for Los Angeles to compete in the 1932 Olympic Games. There he won the gold medal for the 400 metre hurdle event, bringing Olympic glory to the Irish Republic for only the second time in the games' history. His winning time of 51.8 was also a new world record, though the record was not upheld due to a knock hurdle. He also competed in the Decathlon event and finished 8th out of just 15 competitors. 

After his return home from LA, Bob continued to have great success as an athelete at home. He continued to run and maintained an active lifestyle, stating that his last race was at the age of 80, though he did run in the 2000 Olympic Torch Relay at the impressive age of 93. 

Bob moved around quite a bit, and lived in both South Africa and Tanzania before he passed away in Queensland in 2004.