Roland Hardy (11 June 1926 – 14 June 2016)^[1] was a British racewalker who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and in the 1956 Summer Olympics.^[2] He was born in Sheepbridge, Derbyshire.^[3] Hardy was a five-time national champion in the 7 miles walk and a two-time national champion in the 2 miles walk.^[4]

Hardy was born in Sheepbridge, Derbyshire, in June 1926.^[2] At school, Hardy took part in both cricket and football.^[2] In the latter, he was noticed by Sheffield United's manager Teddy Davison, who signed him to play for the side.^[2] However, Hardy's National service stopped him from taking up a career in football.^[2] In April 1949, Hardy began to take up race walking, where he joined the Sheffield United Harriers.^[2] Later that year, Hardy won the 1949 Sheffield Star Walk, breaking the course record by 53 seconds.^[5]

In August 1951, Hardy set a new world record in the 5-mile walk, beating the previous time by nine seconds,^[2] and then broke the British 7-mile record one year later.^[2] With this form, Hardy was selected to represent Great Britain at the Olympics.^[6]

Hardy competed at two Olympic Games.^[7] At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Hardy took part in the men's 10 kilometres walk, but was disqualified in his heat.^[8] Four years later, at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, he finished in eighth place in the men's 20 kilometres walk.^[9]

He died in June 2016, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, at the age of 90.^[10][11]