Darren Clark

Darren Edward Clark (born 6 September 1965 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian retired sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.

For those of a similar name, see Darren Clarke (disambiguation).

His personal best time of 44.38 seconds, achieved at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, is the current Oceanian record.[1] This time would have placed Clark in second place in the 2008 Beijing olympics 400 m final. Clark also co-holds the Oceanian record in 4 x 400 metres relay with 2:59.70 minutes, established with teammates Bruce Frayne, Gary Minihan and Rick Mitchell at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.[2]

Clark achieved fourth place in two consecutive Olympics, 1984 and 1988.

Clark took a break from the track in 1991, playing a season in the New South Wales Rugby League for the Balmain Tigers. Playing mostly in reserve grade, he played on the Wing, scoring 11 tries, and also competed in the pre-season World Sevens Tournament. While playing for the Tigers, Clark was billed as the "Fastest white man alive".

He returned to the track in 1992 and was selected for the Barcelona Olympic team, but was forced to withdraw due to an Achilles tendon injury.[3]

Clark was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame in 2014.[3][4]

International competitions
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 4th 400 m
4th 4 × 400 m relay 2:59.70 AR
1985 World Cup Canberra, Australia 3rd 200 m[5]
1986 Commonwealth Games Edinburgh, United Kingdom 2nd 400 m[6]
1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea 4th 400 m 44.38 AR
6th 4 × 400 m relay
1990 Commonwealth Games Auckland, New Zealand 1st 400 m[6]
1993 World Indoor Championships Toronto, Canada 3rd 400 m

References
  1. Area Outdoor Records - Men - Oceania (IAAF)
  2. Commonwealth All-Time Lists (Men) - GBR Athletics
  3. "Darren Clark". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  4. "Quartet of stars inducted to Athletics Australia Hall of Fame". Australian Olympic Committee. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  5. IAAF World Cup in Athletics - GBR Athletics
  6. Commonwealth Games Medallists - Athletics (Men) - GBR Athletics
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