Sean Dollman competed in the men’s 10,000 metres at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, finishing 16th in his heat in 28:55.77 and not advancing to the final – though the time placed him 16th in conditions of brutal heat and 89 per cent humidity that made it one of the most demanding 10,000-metre races in Olympic history.

He also competed at the Atlanta Games in 1996, finishing 19th in Heat 2 in the men’s 10,000 metres.

Born in South Africa, Dollman was the 1991 NCAA cross country champion and the 1992 NCAA 10,000 metres champion – two of the most prestigious titles in American collegiate athletics.

He had achieved his qualifying time ‘with some style’ at a meet in Oslo on 5 July 1992