William Herald

William Herald (born 13 March 1897, date of death unknown) was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1910s and early 1920s, who won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. He also competed in the 100m and 400m freestyle events.

Herald combined with Frank Beaurepaire, Henry Hay and Ivan Stedman to claim the silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay. The United States, led by Duke Kahanamoku, won the gold, routing the Australians by 21 seconds. Due to the financial difficulties following the First World War, the swimming events were held in an open canal, without lane markings. Herald reached the final of the 100m freestyle, coming fifth, but claimed that fourth-placed American Norman Ross had fouled him during the race. Olympic officials ordered a re-race, and the placings were identical, except for Ross, who had won the 400m and 1500m events in the meantime and not bothered to enter the re-race. Herald fared worse in the 400m, failing to qualify for the final.

Unlike his colleagues, who continued to participate in swimming competitions, including the 1924 Olympics, and in many cases, remaining as public figures, William Herald faded into anonymity after 1920. No publicly available documentation has emerged indicating his later whereabouts and the year and circumstances of his death.

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