Brendan Roderick Hanigan

Brendan is one of the most successful Tasmanian track and field athletes of all time.

Only fellow Hall of Fame member, David Lean, has been more successful internationally. Throughout the 1990s he was Australia's most successful middle distance runner.

When he had a reasonable injury free period, he was invincible amongst Australian competitors not only in his main event the 800 metres but in the 1500 metres as well. On the all time list, Hanigan is the third fastest Australian ever. Only Olympic Games (1968) gold medallist Ralph Doubell and Commonwealth Games (1986) champion Peter Burke are ahead of him.

Brendan's talent and commitment to excellence were often thwarted by illness and injuries. He had more than 40 calf and foot injuries in 9 years. These naturally had an enormous impact on his ability to train and compete at the highest levels. Despite these setbacks his list of achievements is quite remarkable.

He was a bronze medallist at the Seoul 1992 World Junior (Under 20) championships. In 1994 he came 5th in the Commonwealth Games 800 metres, and 4th in the same event at the World Cup of that year. He then competed in Finland and in running second in a hugely talented international field recorded his best ever time of 1 minute 45.03 seconds.

After two years out with calf and achilles tendon injuries he returned to training in 1998 and then racing to his best form where he performed superbly in the Melbourne Grand Prix (second) and the I.A.A.F. Sydney Grand Prix (third) with international fields who were training here in Australia for the Commonwealth Games, World Cup and the Sydney Olympics two years hence.

When Brendan was fit, he won the Australian 800 metres twice, and also won two 1500 metres titles in 1994 and 1995 as well. Restricted somewhat by international commitments, he still won three Tasmanian 800 metres titles and was voted Tasmanian Athlete of the Year on no less than 5 occasions.