Known throughout the sporting world as Deek, Robert De Castella has lived in Canberra since 1981. He is renowned for his achievements in the most demanding of all running events, the marathon.
Robert’s achievements captured the imagination of the Australian public like no other sports person and he is largely recognised as having given an unprecedented international profile to his pet event. Robert won his first major marathon in Fukuoka in 1981.
Other notable achievements include wins in Rotterdam in 1983 and Boston in 1986. Robert contested the event four times at the Olympic Games in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992.
Additionally Robert won a gold medal at the world championships in 1983.
Perhaps his most remarkable achievement was in 1982 when he won a Commonwealth Games gold medal, this performance he repeated in 1986. He was then recognised for his continued efforts in 1982 when he was awarded the MBE, named Australian of the Year and Most Popular Australian Sportsman, an award he also won in 1984.
Throughout his career and since his retirement, he has been actively involved in the fundamental belief that top sports people have a responsibility to act as role models for society, and has worked to do this himself.
Rob has made a contribution in various ways to Canberra’s community, notably as a director of the Australian Institute of Sport and also Chairman of Healthpact.
Throughout his career and since his retirement, he has been actively involved in the fundamental belief that top sports people have a responsibility to act as role models for society, and has worked to do this himself.
Rob has made a contribution in various ways to Canberra’s community, notably as a director of the Australian Institute of Sport and also Chairman of Healthpact.
MARATHON
Born: 7 February 1957
Inducted: 1999
Full Member