Barry Stuart

Australian sportsman Barry Stuart was a champion sprint canoeist, surfer, and life saver who competed at four consecutive Olympic Games. Between 1955 and 1974 Stuart won 18 pairs titles at the national championships in kayak events with Dennis Green. Stuart made his Olympic début at the 1956 Melbourne Games, finishing ninth in the K-1 1,000 metres. Four years later he and Green reached the semi-finals of the K-2 1,000 metres at the Roma Olympics. For the 1964 and 1968 Olympics he was part of the Australian quartet in the K-4 1,000 metres, having a best result of ninth at the Tokyo Games.

In 1957 Stuart had one of his toes amputated but still managed to finish fourth in the final at the Sydney Metropolitan surf titles event just eight days later. Between 1954 and 1978 he also won seven gold, seven silver, and six bronze medals at the Australian Surf Life Saving events. In recognition of his dedication to the sport, Stuart was made a member of the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame.