He was a prominent Cowra businessman but Edward “Ted” McGlynn also wore the green and gold uniform of the Australian Olympic team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
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Ted McGlynn was born in Parkes on August 29, 1931 schooling there before boarding at Marist Brothers in Forbes until 1948.
Ted’s teen years demonstrated an all-round sporting ability, playing tennis, football, hockey, cricket, athletics and boxing winning 52 out of 53 bouts consecutively.
In 1951 the Parkes Athletics Club, of which Ted was a member, entered the Country Championships at Henson Park, Sydney. Ted won the 100 yards with a time of 10.1 seconds, drawing the attention of Bondi athletics coach Jim O’Donnell who suggested he focus on his athletics ability.
Ted took the advice but trained in a country fashion, training in summer without a coach or training partner and in winter playing hockey, golf, tennis and competing in local competitions.
The 1952/53 athletics season was when he found his signature smile with his coach O’Donnell saying: “Ted was a natural runner when I began to coach him but I considered he was too tense to become a champion. To relieve the tautness of his face and neck muscles I suggested he try to smile in his training runs and during races”.
This signature and training paid off.
In January 1953 he became the sprint champion in the 100 yards with a time of 9.6 seconds. A report in the Sydney Morning Herald at the time said: “McGlynn, like C. B. Holmes, England's brilliant Empire Games champion sprinter, smiled from start to finish of his event to win his first major title in 9.6s”.
Ted suffered a great disappointment when he ruptured a thigh muscle, medical professionals suggested he give up running or risk permanent injury.
This began a string of disappointments with Ted unable to make Commonwealth Games selection in 1954, a second injury in 1955 when another muscle ruptured 40 yards from the finishing line, causing him to announce his retirement.
In 1956 Ted was encouraged to make a come back for the Olympics.
Training over winter Ted suffered another injury six weeks before the 1956 Olympics, but overcame it to secure Olympic selection.
Competing in the 4x100 meter relay Ted ran well from the first leg position however the team were unable to make it into the finals.
Eventually Ted retired from athletics working in the accounting industry before running a menswear store, Esquire Mercers, in Kendal Street, Cowra for 36 years.
Ted coached the St Raphael’s athletics team bringing them from last regionally to first for many years.
Ted also acted as the President of the Festival Committee, President of the St Raphael’s P and F, President of the Chamber of Commerce as well as other committees and boards and volunteering for any cause that needed help.
Sadly Ted passed away in 2012 in Cowra.