View source for Nigel Barker (sprinter)

{{Short description|Australian sprinter (1883–1948)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{MedalTableTop | name = no | medals =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]] }}
{{MedalCountry | [[Australia]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Intercalated Games]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1906 Intercalated Games|1906 Athens]] | [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games|100 metres]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1906 Intercalated Games|1906 Athens]] | [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games|400 metres]] }}
}}

'''Nigel Chase Barker''' (26 February 1883 – 31 July 1948) was an Australian [[track and field]] athlete, who is regarded as holder of Australia's first athletics world record, in the 400 yards, and is an [[Intercalated Games]] bronze medalist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geocities.com/geetee/bios/nigel.html |title=Athletics Gold |access-date=2010-10-08 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027100140/http://geocities.com/geetee/bios/nigel.html |archive-date=27 October 2009}} Retrieved 30 September 2007</ref>

Barker was born in [[Sydney]] and attended [[Newington College]] (1895–1901)<ref>Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp9</ref> and the [[University of Sydney]].<ref name="Uni" /> He is described in the official Olympic history of Australia as "an outstanding all-rounder". He played representative [[rugby union]] for [[New South Wales]], and was twice selected for Australia in rugby but was forced to decline on both occasions.<ref name="Uni">{{cite book |last1=Georgakis |first1=Geoffrey Sherington, Steve |title=Sydney University Sport 1852–2007 : more than a club |date=2008 |publisher=Sydney University Press |location=Sydney |isbn=9781920898915 |page=111 |edition=1st}}</ref> In 1904, Barker was selected for the [[1904 Summer Olympics|St. Louis Games]], but injured an ankle playing rugby.<ref>[https://www.canoe.com.au/?page=5723&format= Australian Canoeing online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205211949/http://www.canoe.com.au/?page=5723&format= |date=5 February 2012 }} Retrieved 30 September 2007</ref>

A public subscription raised the funds for Barker to compete in [[Athens]] for the [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games|1906 Intercalated Games]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090808122639/http://geocities.com/geetee/history/topten_m400.html  Athletics Gold] Retrieved 30 September 2007</ref> at the games he competed in two events, first up was the [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games – Men's 100 metres|100 metres]], in the first round he finished in second place behind [[America]]n [[Lawson Robertson]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Round One |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-100-metres-round-one.html |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630043233/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-100-metres-round-one.html |archive-date=30 June 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in the semi-finals he finished second again, one yard behind another American [[William Eaton (sprinter)|William Eaton]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Semi-Finals |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-100-metres-semi-finals.html |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704171620/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-100-metres-semi-finals.html |archive-date=4 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in the final, running from lane 2, he finished in third place for the bronze medal behind another two Americans, [[Archie Hahn (athlete)|Archie Hahn]] and [[Fay Moulton]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Final |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-100-metres-final.html |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705034616/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-100-metres-final.html |archive-date=5 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On the same day as the 100 metres final, he also competed in the [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games|400 metres]], in his first-round heat he won in a time of 53 seconds and qualified for the final,<ref>{{cite web |title=Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's 400 metres Round One |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-400-metres-round-one.html |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709180706/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-400-metres-round-one.html |archive-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> after a couple of days' rest he finished again in bronze medal position behind [[Paul Pilgrim]] and [[James Lightbody]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's 400 metres Final |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-400-metres-final.html |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709180821/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1906/ATH/mens-400-metres-final.html |archive-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the end of his athletic career Barker had won ten National Championship titles from 1903 to 1910.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nigel Barker |url=http://athhistory.sportstg.com/athletes/athlete857.htm |website=athhistory.sportstg.com |publisher=Australian Athletics Historical Results |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225114446/http://athhistory.sportstg.com/athletes/athlete857.htm |archive-date=25 February 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since 2012, [[University of Sydney]] have awarded the Nigel C Barker Medal for Sport Achievement named in his honour.<ref>{{cite web |title=Graduate medals recognise outstanding alumni |url=http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=10410 |website=sydney.edu.au |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603134109/http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=10410 |archive-date=3 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Footer Australia NC 100m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 200m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 400m Men}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Nigel}}
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian male sprinters]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1906 Intercalated Games]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:Australian rugby union players]]
[[Category:People educated at Newington College]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1906 Intercalated Games]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Sydney]]
[[Category:Athletes from Sydney]]
[[Category:Sportsmen from New South Wales]]
[[Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]