|
Travels From:
Canberra
Fee Range: C
|
|
Educated at Xavier College, Melbourne and Swinburne College of Technology, Robert de Castella ("Deek") graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981 with a double major in Biophysics and Instrumental Science.
Deek won his first marathon in 1979 and since then he has completed twenty other marathons, winning nine and finishing in the top ten in all but one. He has run under 2.10 for the marathon on nine occasions from 1981 to 1991 with his fastest time 2.07.51 in Boston in 1986. He held the World Marathon Record from 1981 to 1984 and still holds course records in Fukoka, Boston and Helsinki. Apart from the marathon, he has had numerous wins over shorter distances in Europe, England and the USA and held the World Road Record for 15 km for several years.
In July 1990 he took up the position as Director of the Australian Institute of Sport. The Institute is supported by the Australian Government and is a division of the Australian Sports Commission. As the Director, he was responsible for managing a multi-million dollar budget which the government allocates to the Institute. His primary responsibility, however was to assist the national sporting organisations in the development of their programs in their respective sports and to provide the infrastructure and support for Australia's talented athletes and coaches. rob resigned from this position in February 1995 to pursue a career in the private sector. He now works as a private consultant in health, lifestyle, fitness and personal performance and is on the Board of the Australian Sports Commission.
Throughout Deek's career he has been actively involved in the promotion of sport as a vehicle of self improvement in the community. He believes that our top sports men and women have a responsibility to act as role models for society and he has strived to do this himself.
|
