David's Story
Born in Victor Harbor, South Australia, in 1950, David Fitzsimons developed into one of Australia’s leading distance runners of the 1970s while representing Adelaide University Athletics Club. Fitzsimons was 26 when he made his Olympic debut at Montreal 1976, qualifying for the 10,000 metres final and finishing 14th. He was also entered in the 5,000 metres but did not compete.
Fitzsimons returned at Moscow 1980, progressing through the opening round of the 5,000 metres before placing 10th in his semi-final. Beyond the Olympics, he won eight Australian championships across the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, completing the national double in three consecutive years from 1977 to 1979. His leading international achievement came in 1977, when he earned bronze in the 5,000 metres at the inaugural World Cup in Düsseldorf.
