Jack Vard made history at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games as the first Irish wrestler to compete at the Olympic Games, representing Ireland in the lightweight freestyle division. He won the British Open lightweight wrestling title in 1949 and 1951, the Irish Open welterweight titles in 1950 and 1951, the Irish titles at welterweight and middleweight in 1951, and won the silver medal in the lightweight class at the 1951 Maccabi Games in Israel.

Arriving in Helsinki with one of the strongest international records of any Irish Olympic competitor at those Games. He competed without a manager or official support and was taken under the wing of the legendary Canadian coach Jim Trifunov, who also served as his second in competition.

Vard lost a split decision to the 1948 welterweight bronze medallist Richard Garrard of Australia in his opening bout, and was eliminated when beaten on a fall by the eventual silver medallist Jay Thomas Evans of the USA. His arrival in Helsinki was the result of a rough sea journey that left him unwell and required him to compete just two days after arriving. He went on to compete at the Rome 1960 Olympics.