Oscar, Ridder van Rappard

Like several other members of the 1920 Dutch Olympic team, Oscar van Rappard was born in the Dutch East Indies, on the island of Java. His speed earned him a spot on the Dutch football team at the 1920 Olympics, because some better football players were unable to attend. The four caps that he earned in Antwerpen were his only ones. In Dutch league play, however, he played 140 matches for HBS Den Haag between 1912 and 1921, scoring 57 goals. He was more famous as an athlete on the track. In Antwerpen he also competed in the 110 m hurdles and in 1924 in the 110 m and 400 m hurdles, but he was always eliminated in the heats. He was four times Dutch champion in the 110 m hurdles (1919-23) and once in the 400 m hurdles (1924). Additionally, he was a national record holder over both distances – 1917-32 (110 m hurdles) and 1924-26 (400 m hurdles). In 1925 he had to end his active sports career due to an injury.

As an engineer Van Rappard later worked for the Braden Copper Company in Chile. During World War II he sympathized with the Dutch Nazi Movement and, therefore, was suspended by the Dutch Athletics Federation after the war. His brother Harry also participated in track and field.

Personal Bests: 110H – 15.5 (1923); 400H – 57.5e (1924).