Ivan Stedman

Who was Ivan Stedman?

Ivan Cuthbert Stedman was an Australian freestyle and breaststroke swimmer of the 1920s, who won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. He was born in Oakleigh, a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria.

After being injured in the Battle of the Somme during the First World War, Stedman was selected to carry the flag for Australasia at the Opening Ceremony of the 1920 Summer Olympics. In the 100m freestyle, Stedman was eliminated in the semifinals, but made the final of the 200m breaststroke, where he came last of the five finalists. In an all-Australian team, Stedman combined with Henry Hay, William Herald and Frank Beaurepaire to claim silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay. The American team, led by Duke Kahanamoku won by an extremely large margin of 21s. Stedman also competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, with less success, where he was eliminated in the semifinal of the 100m freestyle and the heats of 200m breaststroke.