Anthony William WINTER

In 1924, “Nick” Winter surprised everyone by winning the triple jump Olympic gold with a world record 15.525. In retrospect, his win should have not been a surprise. The running hop, step, and jump (as the triple jump was then called) was not very popular in Australia back then, so the first national championships were only held in 1930, six years after his Olympic gold. Winter’s experience was thus limited to local club competitions before the 1924 Olympics. It was later discovered, however, that Winter was world ranked #1 in triple jump in 1921 with a result of 15.15 on November 1921 at the South Sydney AAC championships and #3 in 1922, jumping 14.73 in March 1922 at the New South Wales AAA championships. In 1920 Winter was considered for the Australian Olympic team, but was not chosen and in 1924 he was the last athlete selected for the squad. He also competed at the 1928 Olympics, but by then 34-years-old, managed only 12th place. Winter won his only Australian triple jump title in 1930, when it was contested for the first time and captured silver at the 1932 Australian championships. He was ranked in the world top 10 in triple jump every year from 1919-28.

Winter was also an excellent high jumper and hurdler, played rugby league football, cricket, tennis, golf, wrestling, and later became a skilled billiards player. Outside of sports, Winter worked as a general laborer before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915. He was posted to the Australian Army Service Corps in Egypt as a driver in January 1916 and, arriving in France in June 1916, was employed mainly in depot duties. Winter returned to Australia in 1919 and from 1919-27 worked as a fireman under the Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales stationed in Manly. He left the fire service in December 1927, and in the 1930s and 1940s ran his own billiard parlor, while also conducting a hairdressing and tobacconist business. A heavy drinker for several years, Winter died from carbon monoxide poisoning at his Pagewood home on or about 6 May 1955, according to the coroner. Winter apparently stumbled in his bathroom, fell and hit his head, and broke open a gas pipe.

Personal Best: TJ – 15.525 (1924).