David's Story
David Francis Lean is one of Australia's most accomplished track athletes and represented Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Born in Launceston, Tasmania, on 22 August 1935, Lean specialised in the 400-metre hurdles and relay events.
At the Melbourne Olympics, he finished fifth in the 400-metre hurdles final and won a silver medal as a member of Australia's 4 × 400-metre relay team alongside Leon Gregory, Graham Gipson and Kevan Gosper. The relay performance earned Australia its first Olympic men's relay medal in athletics.
Lean's career also included a gold medal in the 440-yard hurdles at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and a silver medal in the same event at the 1958 Games. He was inducted into the Australian Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding achievements.
