Jock Sturrock facts for kids
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sailing | ||
Representing  Australia |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Bronze | 1956 Melbourne | 5.5 metre class |
Alexander Stuart "Jock" Sturrock MBE (born May 14, 1915, died July 11, 1997) was an amazing Australian sailor. He was known for winning over 400 yachting races around the world and in Australia. Jock was a true pioneer in Australian sailing, helping to make it a popular sport.
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A Champion Sailor: Jock Sturrock's Career
Jock Sturrock was a very successful sailor. Between 1929 and 1959, he won 21 Australian championships. He also won 22 championships in Victoria, his home state.
Early Wins and New Boats
Jock won his first state championship in 1929. He was only 14 years old and sailed a 12-foot Cadet Dinghy called "Aurcol." His first national championship came in 1932. He was 16 and sailed another 12-foot Cadet Dinghy, "Monsoon."
When he was 18, Jock helped bring the International Star class yacht to Australia. He then won the first eight Australian championships for this Star class. This was between 1935 and 1947. He also became a champion in other boat classes. He won the 6 Metre class six times and the Dragon class four times. He also won the 5.5 Metre class twice.
Olympic Games and International Races
Jock represented Australia in four Olympic Games. He competed in 1948 (London), 1952 (Helsinki), 1956 (Melbourne), and 1960 (Rome). In 1956, he won a bronze medal in the 5.5 Metre class.
He was also the manager for Australia's yachting team in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics. At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Jock made history. He was the first Australian athlete to compete in four Olympic Games. Because of this, he was chosen to carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony.
Jock also competed in many international races. In 1937, he won the Coronation Cup in England. He also placed third in the 1948 World Star Championship in Portugal. In 1959, he came third in the European Dragon Championship in Italy. He also finished second in the German Dragon Championships.
America's Cup Challenges
Jock became famous around the world in 1962. He was the skipper (captain) of Gretel. This was Australia's first time challenging for the America's Cup. Even though Gretel lost 4-1 to the American boat Weatherly, they won one race. This was the first time a challenger had won a race since 1934. This win helped make the America's Cup popular again.
He also skippered Dame Pattie in 1967. This was Australia's second America's Cup challenge. They lost to the American boat Intrepid.
Jock also sailed for Australia in other big ocean races. These included the Admiral's Cup in England and the Clipper Cup in Hawaii. He sailed in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 11 times. He also helped Australia win the 'Little America's Cup' twice.
Awards and Recognition
Jock Sturrock received many honors. In 1962, he was named Australian of the Year. He was also named the Australian Yachtsman of the Year and the Australian Sportsperson of the Year. In 1975, he was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award for his great work in yachting.
In 1985, he joined the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was named a 'Legend of Australian Sports'. In 2018, he was given the No.1 Barranjoey Medal. This was for being the first Australian sailor to achieve a top 10 Olympic or World Championship performance. Later in 2018, he was also added to the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame.
Military Service During World War II
Jock Sturrock also served his country during World War II. He was in the Australian Army from 1940 to 1945. He started as a private and quickly became a captain within two years.
He worked as an intelligence officer in Papua New Guinea. His job was to gather information from behind enemy lines. He also carried important messages between troops and headquarters. He faced many challenges during his service. These included difficult jungle conditions and injuries. After his service, he returned to Melbourne. His experiences in the army affected his health and mobility for the rest of his life.
Other Tributes to Jock Sturrock
Jock Sturrock is remembered in several ways. There are streets named after him, like 'Sturrock Place' in Canberra. There are also 'Sturrock Courts' in Melbourne suburbs. A bridge in Noosaville, Queensland, is named the 'Jock Sturrock Bridge'.
