Leslie Boardman

Leslie Boardman, born on August 2, 1889, was an Australian freestyle swimmer who made his mark in the 1910s. He was part of the Australasia combined team, representing both Australia and New Zealand at the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden. Boardman achieved notable success by winning a gold medal in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay, a testament to his skill and teamwork.

Despite his Olympic triumph, little is known about Boardman's swimming career. He never clinched any Australian championships and was not initially selected for the Olympic team. E.G. Findlay was the original choice, but due to financial constraints, Boardman took his place. His performance at the 1912 Australian Championships was modest, as he did not place, and he finished fourth in the 220-yard freestyle at the New South Wales Championships.

At the Stockholm Olympics, Boardman competed in the 100-metre freestyle, winning his heat but ultimately finishing fourth in the second round, which led to his elimination. In the relay event, he swam the third leg alongside teammates Harold Hardwick and Cecil Healy, helping secure the gold medal against a strong United States team. Interestingly, Boardman was also registered to compete in plain high diving but did not participate in that event.