Sports scientist scores hall of fame spot
Chris Davis and Kristyn Comino
7 October 2014: University of Canberra professorial fellow and sports scientist Dick Telford AM will be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
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UC's Dick Telford has been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Photo: Cameron Murray. |
Having been the first-ever sports scientist at the Australian Institute of Sport and coach of many Australian Olympians and Commonwealth Games medallists, the 69-year-old said he never expected to be named in the hall of fame amongst legends like Donald Bradman, Greg Norman and Cathy Freeman.
"It was something that came completely out of the blue. I don't think it's something anyone tries to achieve, but it's a real honour," Professor Telford said, who is also a former Australian Rules footballer, cricket player and distance runner.
Professor Telford, who joined the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise as a professional fellow last year, said his work at the University of Canberra has gone a long way towards receiving the honour.
"I think the University of Canberra is an excellent venue to conduct interdisciplinary research, particularly linking physical activity with health and sport," Professor Telford said.
"My research at the University of Canberra into the concept of physical literacy has a lot to do with the health of kids and how kids perceive sport and how they gain competence and confidence in sport and physical education, which is important for our country's future," he added.
Since joining the University, Professor Telford has created the University of Canberra John Landy Talent Squad, named after the former Australian Olympic track athlete and the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier. The group is designed to identify and support emerging young middle distance running talent and Professor Telford is confident there will be some future Olympians amongst the group.
Originally from Victoria, Professor Telford started his sports career in the 1960s playing football for Collingwood and Fitzroy and later winning the prestigious JJ Liston Trophy for best player in the then Victorian Football League. He was also appointed coaching coordinator and manager of the Victorian Sheffield Shield cricket team, with his team winning the competition twice during his three-year term.
He started distance running in the 1980s, running ran marathons and middle distance events and won the Australian veterans M40 1500m championship in 1985, and finished third in the World Masters Championships.
Professor Telford and his family moved to Canberra in 1981, when he was appointed as the first sport scientist at the newly established Australian Institute of Sport.
"My first task was to think about what Australia should be doing to assist coaches to get them out of the doldrums, signified by just five medals (none of them gold) at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. When I left, those five medals in Montreal had become 58 in Sydney in 2000."
Professor Telford coached Lisa Martin (nee Ondieki) to a silver medal in the women's marathon at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and has also coached other successful athletes, including being marathon champion Robert de Castella's physiologist and nutritionist.
Professor Telford will be officially inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at a function held at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne on 9 October.
