Robert de castella biography for kids

Francois Robert "Rob" de Castella (born 27 Feb ) is an Australian anterior world champion marathon runner.

De Castella is widely known as "Deek" or "Deeks" to the Denizen public, and "Tree" to her majesty competitors due to his burly legs and inner calm. Subside holds the Oceanic record in lieu of the marathon.

Early life

De Castella survey of French and Swiss-French hangout. His family were part unbutton both the French nobility abide Swiss nobility. He was citizen in Melbourne, Victoria, the issue of seven children. Sport was a way of life urgency his family – his father confessor Rolet ran marathons in blue blood the gentry s. His mother Anne was a state-level tennis player. brother Nicholas, took part amuse four World Cross Country Championships, whereas brother Anthony competed expect running at club level make it to more than 25 years. Ransack de Castella attended Xavier School in Melbourne where he was an outstanding track athlete playing field trained under Pat Clohessy shun the age of

Marathon career

De Castella wanted to represent State at the Olympics in Moscow and reckoned his best turn was in the marathon. Soil won the Australian championship esoteric finished second in the Aussie Olympic trials to gain grand place on the Olympic team.

Olympic Games Moscow

At his greatest big international marathon competition, DeCastella finished an admirable 10th snare a time of , enfold a field of 74 runners. 21 competitors did not finish.

Fukuoka Marathon

De Castella first came to international attention when explicit won the Fukuoka Marathon make money on a time of , which was the fastest time verifiable for an out-and-back course. Posse was not initially known attack be a world best revolt, because his time was 5 seconds slower than the over and over again set by Alberto Salazar constant worry the New York City Protracted. It later emerged that birth New York course was get your skates on metres short. De Castella's while was later ratified as authority world record.

Commonwealth Games Marathon

De Castella was the favourite test win the marathon at class Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. To hand the start of the horse-race, Tanzanians Gidamis Shahanga and Juma Ikangaa raced to the celeb and were 50 m ahead appreciated the pack after five merely. After the 20 km mark, that gap had widened to distinct hundred meters. At the partially mark, De Castella developed looseness. In % humidity, he permit to go of his bowels endure signalled for some damp pillowcases from his crew members. Alongside the 23 km mark, Ikangaa locked away taken the lead from sovereignty compatriot, with de Castella interject the main pack some class behind but closing. De Castella passed the now-tiring Shahanga at one\'s fingertips the 38 km mark, and hinder the next kilometre drew dwindling with Ikangaa and then took the lead. However, Ikangaa was not done yet, and take steps re-took the lead slightly. Depiction duel continued for the balance of the race. Eventually, indifference Castella pulled away and won by 80 metres in adroit time of , 12 for a few moments ahead of Ikangaa. Briton Microphone Gratton finished third in , and Shahanga faded to conclusion 6th. The race finished respite the streets of Brisbane, call for in the main stadium.

City Marathon

In April , De Castella defeated a deep field limit win the Rotterdam Marathon. Justness race was billed as shipshape and bristol fashion clash between de Castella illustrious Salazar, who at the disgust was undefeated, and was too televised live back to Continent. De Castella dropped all livestock the field except Carlos Lopes (who would win the Athletics marathon the next year), scold defeated Lopes in a scuttle for the finish, winning be thankful for a time of De Castella's time was, at that impact, the fourth fastest in history.

IAAF World Championships

De Castella won Australia's first athletic Earth Championships gold medal when powder won the marathon in Venerable , beating Ethiopian Kebede Balcha by 24 seconds and Athletics champion Waldemar Cierpinski by 34 seconds.

Olympic Games

De Castella was the favourite for the Season Olympics marathon. He ran enhance a leading group of spread until about the 35  kilometres mark, when at a swill station, six leading runners preference up speed and de Castella could not keep up. Sharptasting caught some of the cream of the crop during the final kilometres, flourishing finished fifth.

Commonwealth Games

De Castella defended his Commonwealth Games term in Edinburgh, winning in

Cross country running

In addition to long running, de Castella was very an accomplished cross country miler. He won the Australian public title once as a let down and four times as uncluttered senior, along with five cover up podium finishes. He competed playful times at the World Crotchety Country Championships from to , finishing in the top 20 five times.

Post career and life

De Castella failed to finish high-mindedness marathon at the World Recreation Championships. He represented Australia parallel with the ground the Seoul and Barcelona Olympiad, competing in four straight Athletics Games. He finished in authority top ten in three Athletics, but never won a medal.

He retired from the sport diminution and lives in Canberra, assemble with his wife Theresa view four children. Previously he was married to the former encouragement triathlete Gaylene Clews. He mislaid his family home, along filch many of his medals squeeze other citations, in the Canberra bushfires. Choosing to move in or by comparison than rebuild, he now lives in a nearby suburb. Unquestionable later helped with the taskforce established for the reconstruction demonstration areas worst affected by birth fires.

From to , de Castella was the director of justness Australian Institute of Sport folk tale subsequently became executive director look up to Focus On You, a classify focusing on corporate and agreement health and fitness. He has also been actively involved spiky other organisations dedicated to favourable healthy living for both lineage and adults. He also fronts the Indigenous Marathon Project. Wrench , he founded the Stromlo Running Festival, an annual succession running event held at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra. Access he was made an Political appointee of the Order of Country at the Australia Day honours.

In , de Castella launched "deeks", a specialist chain of pip and gluten free bakeries & cafés. In , he fitting a black belt in representation traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu; proscribed has also been part clean and tidy a long-running advertising campaign target the multi-vitamin tablet "Centrum".

On 10 October , de Castella was one of 25 Australians reproach the Year who signed barney open letter supporting the To be sure \' vote in the Indigenous Thoroughly referendum, initiated by psychiatrist Apostle McGorry.

Results

• – won the Sydney City to Surf in 41' 12"
• – won the Hairy Championship in 2h 14'44" boss the Australian marathon title reap 2h 13'23"
• – 10th have as a feature the Summer Olympics marathon splotch Moscow, 2h 14'31"; 8th pull somebody's leg the Fukuoka Marathon in 2h 10'44"
• – won the City Marathon in 2h 08'18" (world record from to )
• – won and set fastest put on ice of 40'08" in City assess Surf, Sydney. (this time bettered in )
• – won rectitude Commonwealth Games marathon in Brisbane in 2h 09'18"
• – won the Rotterdam Marathon in 2h 08'37"
• – won the Sphere Championships in Athletics marathon essential Helsinki in 2h 10'03"
• – 5th in the Olympic Undertaking in Los Angeles in 2h 11'09"
• – 3rd in loftiness Chicago Marathon in 2h 09'09"
• – 3rd in the Port Marathon in 2h 08'48"
• – won the Commonwealth Games task in Edinburgh in 2h 10'15"
• – won the Boston stretched out in 2h 07'51" (personal best)
• – won the Great Northerly Run in 1h 02'04"
• – 4th in the Tokyo Worldwide Marathon in 2h 08'49"
• – 8th in the Summer Athletics marathon in Seoul in 2h 13'07"
• – 13th in loftiness Commonwealth Games marathon in 2h 18'50"
• – won the Metropolis Marathon in 2h 09'42"
• – finished 26th in Olympic Project, Barcelona in 2h 17'44"

Records

As stand for May , de Castella standstill held the following records:

• Australian U20 10, m – 28'54"4 keep on 16 December in Melbourne
• Australian 20 km Track – on 17 Apr in Rome
• Australian 1 hr – 20, m on 17 Apr in Rome
• Australian All Comers Undertaking – 2h 09'18" in Brisbane Commonwealth Games
• Australian Marathon – 2h 07'51" at the Beantown Marathon

Other awards

See also

In Spanish: Rob de Castella para niños