Olympic athletes reunite

Press, 25 February 1988, Page 44

Olympic athletes reunite

PA Auckland Thirty-six years is a long time between drinks. So for an Aucklander, John “Dutch” Holland, and an American, Charlie Moore, there was plenty to catch up on when they met in Auckland this week.

Their paths last crossed at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics where Moore was the hot favourite to win the gold medal in the 400 m hurdles event and Holland an outside chance for a silver or bronze.

Moore, in the outside lane, blitzed the field to win in 50.8 s — just 0.2 s outside the then world 'nrd - th Holland

recon — wh zollanc claiming the bronze medal in one his finest career performances. Holland, aged 61, is retired and spends much of his spare time with his new sporting love, bowls. Moore is 58.

Holland, who also represented New Zealand in the 400 m hurdles at the 1948 London Olympics, had not heard from Moore since Helsinki — that is until a telephone call early on Sunday. “Moore is managing director of a merchant bank back in the States and is out here for a few days on business,” Holland said. “He managed to run me down through his agent here who got hold of my address and telephone number through the New Zealand Athletic Association. ”