Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. Born John Urquhart Cropp, he was one half of New Zealand's first Olympic gold medal winning sailing crew in 1956. He trained and worked as a lithographer before moving into professional boat building and design. Before going to the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, he became commodore of the Canterbury Yacht and Motor Boat Club. He, along with partner Peter Mander, became the first New Zealand sailors to compete in the Olympics sailing event, when they contested the Sharpie class in 1956 at Melbourne. They were successful in winning the gold medal after fighting off a tight challenge from the Australian team. They had originally finished second, but was declared the winner after France had successfully protested against Australia for obstruction. Both Cropp and Manders were inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. Born John Urquhart Cropp, he was one half of New Zealand's first Olympic gold medal winning sailing crew in 1956. He trained and worked as a lithographer before moving into professional boat building and design. Before going to the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, he became commodore of the Canterbury Yacht and Motor Boat Club. He, along with partner Peter Mander, became the first New Zealand sailors to compete in the Olympics sailing event, when they contested the Sharpie class in 1956 at Melbourne. They were successful in winning the gold medal after fighting off a tight challenge from the Australian team. They had originally finished second, but was declared the winner after France had successfully protested against Australia for obstruction. Both Cropp and Manders were inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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