Awarded Life Membership 31 July 1986
Birth: 26 January 1932
Death: 31 August 2021
Leslie ‘Les’ Martyn was the fifth Chairman of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, serving in the role for a decade from 1979 to 1987.
He was President of the Australian Weightlifting Federation and Confederation of Australian Sport (1983 to 1987), where he played a central role in the organisations establishment in 1976 following Australia’s poor performance at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games.
Les was one of Australia’s first recognised weightlifting coaches, a passion which also saw him become the inaugural Chairman of the Australian Coaching Council. He became Australian Weightlifting Federation President (1971-1983) and served on the International Weightlifting Federation Executive Board (1981-1984).
His involvement in weightlifting extended to roles as manager and coach of the Australian team to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica in 1966, before moving to the Team Headquarters as Assistant General Manager at the Christchurch 1974 Games and then General Manager of the team to Edmonton in 1978.
He was also a long serving weightlifting official, commencing as Chef Recorder at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games and Referee at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth in 1962.
During his time as Chair of the ACGA he played a significant role in the organisation of the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games and was the inaugural President of the Victorian State Division of ACGA.
He was the world governor of the World Masters Games Association, member of the International Board of Governors of Sport.
For his service to Sport Les was awarded the Administrator of the Year at the 1982 Sport Australia Awards, honoured with the Order of the British Empire – Member (Civil) (MBE) in 1978 ‘For service to sport’ and Life Membership of the Australian Weightlifting Federation (1975), Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation (1978), Confederation of Australian Sport (1988) and Oceania Weightlifting Federation.
A member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame (1989) and Australian Weightlifting Hall of Fame (2010).
In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal ‘For services to sports administration’.
Les Martyn passed away peacefully in 2021, aged 89.
Leslie Martyn working with Leong Chim Seong ahead of the Perth 1962 Games. (CGA Archive)
