Bob Tisdall won the gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games, becoming one of Ireland’s earliest Olympic athletics champions.

Tisdall was born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and raised in Nenagh, County Tipperary, where he developed into a talented all-round athlete before excelling at Cambridge University, winning multiple events in the annual Oxford – Cambridge matches.

His Olympic victory is one of the most remarkable in athletics history. Having competed in the 400m hurdles only a handful of times, he won the final in 51.7 seconds after striking the final hurdle, meaning his world-record time was not recognised under the rules of the time. He also competed in the decathlon at the same Games, finishing eighth.

Tisdall’s success came during a famous day for Irish sport in Los Angeles, when Ireland won two Olympic gold medals within hours (the other being Pat O’Callaghan’s hammer victory). His achievement contributed to establishing Ireland’s reputation in international athletics during the early years of the State.