Ferd Hayward facts for kids
Harry Ferdinand (Ferd) Hayward (born August 21, 1911 – died September 12, 1988) was a famous Canadian athlete. He was known for his amazing skills in race walking, which is a special type of walking race. In 1952, he even competed for Canada at the Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. Ferd Hayward was born in St. John's, which was then part of Newfoundland.
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A Champion Race Walker
Ferd Hayward was a true champion in race walking. He held the Newfoundland records for several distances. These included the one-mile, ten-mile, and twenty-mile race walking events. He was incredibly fast and strong!
Winning Gold Medals
Hayward took part in many big sports events across North America. At one important competition, the United States National Kilometre Walking Champ race in Baltimore, he won a Gold Medal. This showed he was one of the best race walkers around.
Competing at the Olympics
In 1952, Ferd Hayward achieved a dream many athletes share. He joined the Canadian national team and went to the Summer Olympics. The games were held in Helsinki, Finland, and he competed there as a race walker.
His Lasting Legacy
Ferd Hayward's contributions to sports were recognized in many ways. He left a lasting mark on Canadian athletics.
Hall of Fame and Athlete of the Year
On April 27, 1974, Ferd Hayward became one of the very first people to be welcomed into the Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame. This is a special place that honors athletes who have done amazing things in sports. He was also the first person ever to receive the Newfoundland Athlete of the Year award when it started in 1951. Today, a special award called the Ferd Memorial plaque is given to the best senior male athlete in the province each year, in his memory.
Carrying the Olympic Torch
Even later in his life, Ferd Hayward continued to be part of the Olympic spirit. In 1988, he had the honor of carrying the torch. This was during the preparations for the Calgary Winter Olympics that year. It was a special moment, showing his connection to the world of sports.
See also
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador
