View source for Robert de Castella

{{short description|Australian long-distance runner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name           = Robert de Castella 
| honorific_suffix ={{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|MBE}}
| image          = Robert de Castella 1983.jpg
| image_size     = 
| caption        = Robert de Castella in 1983
| birth_name     = 
| fullname       = Francois Robert de Castella
| nationality    = 
| residence      = 
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1957|2|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place    = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight         = {{convert|65|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| country        = {{AUS}}
| sport          = Long-distance running
| club           = Old Xaverians, Glenhuntly Athletics Club, Melbourne<br>Mazda Optimists Track Club 
| retired        = 
| olympics       = 
| highestranking = 
| show-medals    = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]]|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Men's Marathon|Marathon]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games|1982 Brisbane]]|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games – Men's marathon|Marathon]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Men's marathon|Marathon]]}}
}}

'''Francois Robert de Castella''' (born 27 February 1957) is an Australian former world champion [[Marathon (sport)|marathon]] runner.

De Castella is widely known as "'''Deek'''" or "'''Deeks'''"<ref name=r1/> to the Australian public, and "Tree" to his competitors due to his thick legs and inner calm. He holds the [[Oceania|Oceanic]] record for the marathon.

==Early life==
De Castella is of French and Swiss-French descent. His family were part of both the [[French nobility]] and [[Swiss nobility]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swisscastles.ch/Fribourg/delley.html|title = Fribourg : Le château de Delley}}</ref> He was born in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], the eldest of seven children. Sport was a way of life in his family – his father Rolet ran marathons in the 1950s. His mother Anne was a state-level tennis player. His brother Nicholas, took part in four World Cross Country Championships, whereas brother Anthony competed in running at club level for more than 25 years.<ref>[http://xtc.apphb.com/anthony-de-castella Ant de Castella]. Hawthorn Tri Club</ref> Rob de Castella attended [[Xavier College]] in Melbourne where he was an outstanding track athlete and trained under [[Pat Clohessy]] from the age of 11.<ref name=b1/>

==Marathon career==
De Castella wanted to represent Australia at the Olympics in Moscow and reckoned his best chance was in the marathon. He won the Australian championship and finished second in the Australian Olympic trials to gain a place on the 1980 Olympic team.<ref>{{Cite news |title=How Rob De Castella changed the face of the marathon |newspaper=ABC News |date=5 August 2024 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-05/paris-olympics-rob-de-castella-on-the-marathon/104169542}}</ref>

===1980 Olympic Games Moscow===
At his first big international marathon competition, DeCastella finished 10th in a time of 2:14:31, in a field of 74 runners. 21 competitors did not finish. 

===1981 Fukuoka Marathon===
De Castella first came to international attention when he won the 1981 Fukuoka Marathon in a time of 2:08:18, which was the fastest time recorded for an out-and-back course. It was not initially known to be a world best time, because his time was 5 seconds slower than the time set by [[Alberto Salazar]] in the 1981 [[New York City Marathon]]. It later emerged that the New York course was about 148 metres short. De Castella's time was later ratified as the world record.<ref name=b1>{{cite book|author1=Benyo, Richard  |author2=Henderson, Joe  |name-list-style=amp |title=Running Encyclopedia|url=https://archive.org/details/runningencyclope00rich|url-access=registration  |year=2002|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=978-0-7360-3734-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/runningencyclope00rich/page/86 86]–87}}</ref>

===1982 Commonwealth Games Marathon===
De Castella was the favourite to win the marathon at the [[1982 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Brisbane]]. At the start of the race, [[Tanzania]]ns [[Gidamis Shahanga]] and [[Juma Ikangaa]] raced to the lead and were 50&nbsp;m ahead of the pack after five minutes. After the 20&nbsp;km mark, this gap had widened to several hundred meters. At the halfway mark, De Castella developed [[Diarrhea|diarrhoea]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-14 |title=The day de Castella stopped the nation with marathon victory in 1982 |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-14/robert-de-castella-wins-gold-at-brisbane-commonwealth-games/9566830 |access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref> In 100% humidity, he let go of his bowels and signalled for some damp towels from his crew members.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-14/robert-de-castella-wins-gold-at-brisbane-commonwealth-games/9566830|title = The day de Castella stopped the nation with marathon victory in 1982|newspaper = ABC News|date = 14 April 2018|last1 = Pentony|first1 = Luke|last2 = Hull|first2 = Quentin}}</ref> By the 23&nbsp;km mark, Ikangaa had taken the lead from his compatriot, with de Castella in the main pack some 250 m behind but closing. De Castella passed the now-tiring Shahanga at the 38&nbsp;km mark, and in the next kilometre drew level with Ikangaa and then took the lead. However, Ikangaa was not done yet, and he re-took the lead slightly. The duel continued for the remainder of the race. Eventually, de Castella pulled away and won by 80 metres in a time of 2:09:18, 12 seconds ahead of Ikangaa. Briton [[Mike Gratton]] finished third in 2:12:06, and Shahanga faded to finish 6th. The race finished on the streets of Brisbane, not in the main stadium.<ref name=b1/><ref name="Wilson">{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Lorraine|title=Robert de Castella|year=1984|publisher=Thomas Nelson Publishing|isbn=0170064492}}</ref>

===1983 Rotterdam Marathon===
In April 1983, De Castella defeated a deep field to win the [[Rotterdam Marathon]]. The race was billed as a clash between de Castella and Salazar, who at the time was undefeated, and was also televised live back to Australia.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116378304?searchTerm=marathon De Castellas have a marathon weekend], [[Canberra Times]], 11 April 1983</ref> De Castella dropped all of the field except [[Carlos Lopes]] (who would win the Olympic marathon the next year), and defeated Lopes in a sprint for the finish, winning in a time of 2:08:37.<ref name=b1/> De Castella's time was, at that point, the fourth fastest in history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Robert de Castella wins|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gRoiAAAAIBAJ&pg=6409,7022081|access-date=26 August 2010|newspaper=Reading Eagle|date=10 April 1983}}</ref>

===1983 IAAF World Championships===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1983-0814-017, Helsinki, 1. Leichtathletik-WM, Cierpinski, De Castella.jpg|thumb|270px|World champion Robert De Castella (r.) receives congratulations from 3rd-place finisher [[Waldemar Cierpinski]] ([[East Germany|DDR]]) in [[1983 World Championships in Athletics - Men's marathon|Helsinki 1983]]]]
De Castella won Australia's first [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|athletic World Championships]] gold medal when he won the marathon in August [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983]], beating Ethiopian [[Kebede Balcha]] by 24 seconds and Olympic champion [[Waldemar Cierpinski]] by 34 seconds.<ref name=Wolfgang>{{cite book|last=Wünsche|first=Wolfgang|title=The Heroes of Racetracks|year=1984}}</ref>

===1984 Olympic Games===
De Castella was the favourite for the [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|1984 Summer Olympics marathon]].<ref name=b1/> He ran in a leading group of ten until about the 35 &nbsp;kilometres mark, when at a drink station, six leading runners picked up speed and de Castella could not keep up.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127219658 De Castella dignified in defeat], [[Canberra Times]], 14 August, 1984</ref> He caught some of the leaders during the final kilometres, and finished fifth.

===1986 Commonwealth Games===
De Castella defended his Commonwealth Games title in [[1986 Commonwealth Games|Edinburgh]], winning in 2:10:15.<ref name="athletics.com.au"/>

==Cross country running==
In addition to marathon running, de Castella was also an accomplished [[Cross country running|cross country runner]]. He won the Australian national title once as a junior and four times as a senior, along with five other podium finishes. He competed eight times at the [[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]] from 1977 to 1986, finishing in the top 20 five times.<ref name="athletics.com.au">{{cite web|title=Robert de Castella – Profile |url=http://www.athletics.com.au/history/athletes/athlete638.htm |work=Athletics Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821100024/http://www.athletics.com.au/history/athletes/athlete638.htm |archive-date=21 August 2012 }}</ref>

==Post career and life==
De Castella failed to finish the marathon at the 1987 World Athletics Championships.<ref name="athletics.com.au"/> He represented Australia at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, competing in four straight Olympic Games. He finished in the top ten in three Olympics, but never won a medal.<ref name=r1>{{cite Sports-Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418045750/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/de/rob-de-castella-1.html |title=Rob de Castella |archive-date=2020-04-18 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/de/rob-de-castella-1.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

He retired from the sport in 1993 and lives in [[Canberra]], together with his wife Theresa and four children.<ref name=img/> Previously he was married to the former champion [[triathlete]] [[Gaylene Clews]].<ref name=b1/><ref name=AOTY1983 /> He lost his family home, along with many of his medals and other citations, in the [[2003 Canberra bushfires]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Nicholson|first=Brendan|title=Disaster in the capital|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/19/1042911273067.html|access-date=26 August 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=20 January 2003|author2=Crabb, Annabel|author3=Gordon, Josh|author4=Guerrera, Orietta}}</ref> Choosing to move rather than rebuild, he now lives in a nearby suburb. He later helped with the taskforce established for the reconstruction of areas worst affected by the fires.<ref name=img/>

From 1990 to 1995, de Castella was the director of the [[Australian Institute of Sport]]<ref name="AOTY1983">{{cite web|title=Robert de Castella MBE|url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/robert-de%20castella/87/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806013950/https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/robert-de%20castella/87/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2020|publisher=National Australia Day Council |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref> and subsequently became executive director of ''Focus On You'', a company focusing on corporate and community health and fitness.<ref name=AOTY1983 /> He has also been actively involved in other organisations dedicated to encouraging healthy living for both children and adults.<ref name="AIS_Alumni">{{cite web|title=AIS Alumni|url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history/ais_alumni/where_are_they_now/robert_de_castella|work=Robert de Castella|publisher=Australian Institute of Sport|access-date=26 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306231429/http://ausport.gov.au/ais/history/ais_alumni/where_are_they_now/robert_de_castella|archive-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> He also fronts the Indigenous Marathon Project. In 2009, he founded the Stromlo Running Festival, an annual trail running event held at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://stromlorunningfestival.com.au/history/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Stromlo Running Festival |language=en-AU}}</ref> In 2014 he was made an [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] at the Australia Day honours.

In 2003, de Castella launched "deeks", a specialist chain of grain and gluten free bakeries & cafés.<ref>{{cite web|title=deeks bakery and cafe |url=https://secure.deeks.com.au/aboutDeeksStory.html |work=The story of deeks |publisher=deeks bakery and cafe |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015205619/https://secure.deeks.com.au/aboutDeeksStory.html |archive-date=15 October 2009 }}</ref> In 2004, he earned a black belt in the traditional Okinawan [[Goju Ryu]]; he has also been part of a long-running advertising campaign for the multi-vitamin tablet "Centrum".<ref name=img>{{cite web|title=Rob de Castella – Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist & Former Head of the AIS |url=http://www.imgtalent.com.au/profiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&ProfileID=821&orgid=2077 |publisher=IMG |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316110332/http://www.imgtalent.com.au/profiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&ProfileID=821&orgid=2077 |archive-date=16 March 2012 }}</ref>

On 10 October 2023, de Castella was one of 25 [[Australians of the Year]] who signed an [[open letter]] supporting the Yes vote in the [[2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum|Indigenous Voice referendum]], initiated by psychiatrist [[Patrick McGorry]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Butler | first=Josh | title=Australian of the Year winners sign open letter saying no vote in voice referendum would be a 'shameful dead end' | website=[[The Guardian]] | date=11 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/11/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-australians-of-the-year-open-letter | access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref><ref name=letter>{{cite web | last=Winter | first=Velvet | title=Voice referendum live updates: Australians of the Year Yes vote letter in full | website=[[ABC News (Australia)]] | date=10 October 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-11/live-updates-voice-referendum-latest-news-october-11/102958838 | access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>

== Results ==
* 1977 – won the Sydney [[City2Surf (Sydney)|City to Surf]] in 41' 12"
* 1979 – won the [[Victorian Championship]] in 2h 14'44" and the Australian marathon title in 2h 13'23"<ref name=b1/>
* 1980 – 10th in the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] marathon in [[Moscow]], 2h 14'31"; 8th at the [[Fukuoka Marathon]] in 2h 10'44"<ref name=b1/>
* 1981 – won the [[Fukuoka Marathon]] in 2h 08'18" ([[Marathon world best progression|world record]] from 1981 to 1984)<ref name=b1/>
* 1981 – won and set fastest time of 40'08" in City to Surf, Sydney. (this time bettered in 1991)
* 1982 – won the [[1982 Commonwealth Games]] marathon in [[Brisbane]] in 2h 09'18"<ref name=b1/>
* 1983 – won the [[Rotterdam Marathon]] in 2h 08'37"<ref name=b1/>
* 1983 – won the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics]] marathon in [[Helsinki]] in 2h 10'03"<ref name=b1/>
* 1984 – 5th in the [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Men's Marathon|Olympic Marathon]] in [[Los Angeles]] in 2h 11'09"<ref name=r1/>
* 1984 – 3rd in the [[Chicago Marathon]] in 2h 09'09"
* 1985 – 3rd in the Chicago Marathon in 2h 08'48"<ref name=b1/>
* 1986 – won the [[1986 Commonwealth Games]] marathon in [[Edinburgh]] in 2h 10'15"
* 1986 – won the [[Boston marathon]] in 2h 07'51" (personal best<ref name=r1/><ref name=b1/>)
* 1987 – won the [[Great North Run]] in 1h 02'04"
* 1988 – 4th in the [[Tokyo International Marathon]] in 2h 08'49"
* 1988 – 8th in the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] marathon in [[Seoul]] in 2h 13'07"<ref name=r1/><ref name=b1/>
* 1990 – 13th in the [[1990 Commonwealth Games]] marathon in 2h 18'50"<ref name="athletics.com.au"/>
* 1991 – won the Rotterdam Marathon in 2h 09'42"
* 1992 – finished 26th in Olympic Marathon, Barcelona in 2h 17'44"<ref name=r1/>

==Records==
As of May 2009, de Castella still held the following records:<ref name="athletics.com.au" />
* Australian U20 10,000 m – 28'54"4 on 16 December 1976 in Melbourne
* Australian 20&nbsp;km Track – 58.37.2 on 17 April 1982 in Rome
* Australian 1 hr – 20,516 m on 17 April 1982 in Rome
* Australian All Comers Marathon – 2h 09'18" in Brisbane Commonwealth Games 1982
* Australian Marathon – 2h 07'51" at the 1986 Boston Marathon

== Other awards ==
*1982 – [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] in recognition of service to athletics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Francois de Castella MBE|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1085323|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref>
*1983 – [[Australian of the Year]]<ref name="AOTY1983"/>
*1985 – [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]]<ref name=sahof>{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/robert-de-castella/|title=Robert de Castella|publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame|access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref>
*2000 – [[Australian Sports Medal]] for significant contribution as a competitor (Athletics).<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Francois de Castella|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/980805|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref>
*2001 – [[Centenary Medal]] service to the sport of athletics and to sports administration.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Francois de Castella|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1122967|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref>
*2001 – [[Australian Institute of Sport]] 'Best of the Best'<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120323161526/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history/awards/best_of_the_best Best of the Best]. Australian Institute of Sport</ref>
*2014 – [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] for distinguished service to the community through programs promoting children's health and fitness, as a supporter and mentor of young Indigenous men and women, and to marathon running.<ref>{{cite web|title=Officer (AO) in the general division of the Order of Australia at the 2014 Australia Day honours|url=http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/Media%20Notes%20-%20AO%20(final).pdf|publisher=[[Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia]]|page=[http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/Media%20Notes%20-%20AO%20(final).pdf#page=18 18]|date=26 January 2014|access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|35em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Robert de Castella}}
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{CGF}}
* {{AOC}}
* {{Olympics.com}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Derek Clayton]]|title=[[Marathon world best progression|Men's Marathon World Record Holder]]|years=6 December 1981 – 21 October 1984|after={{flagicon|GBR}} [[Steve Jones (runner)|Steve Jones]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Australians of the Year}}
{{Footer World Champions Marathon Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Marathon Men}}
{{Footer WBYP Marathon Men}}
{{Footer Boston Marathon Champions Men}}
{{Footer Rotterdam Marathon Champions Men}}
{{Footer Fukuoka Marathon Champions Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 10,000 m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC Marathon Men}}
{{Japan Championships in Athletics men's marathon champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Castella, Robert}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australian male long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Australian male marathon runners]]
[[Category:Olympic male marathon runners]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:De Castella family|Robert]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Japan Championships in Athletics winners]]
[[Category:Boston Marathon male winners]]
[[Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal]]
[[Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Australian of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:People educated at Xavier College]]
[[Category:Australian Institute of Sport track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Australian Institute of Sport administrators]]
[[Category:Australian people of Swiss-Italian descent]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:Australian republicans]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Sportsmen from Victoria (state)]]