Kerry O’Brien (athletics) competed in the 1-mile and 3-mile events at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston in addition to the event in which he made his name, the 3,000m steeplechase, where he won the silver medal. O’Brien finished 4th in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, before going on to race in the 5,000m, 10,000m and steeplechase at the 1970 Edinburgh Games. In the lead up to the 1970 Games, O’Brien set a new steeplechase world record of 8.22.20 in Berlin, cementing his position as the gold-medal favourite. But tragedy struck in Edinburgh, as O’Brien when leading fell at the last water jump and did not finish the race. O’Brien twice won the steeplechase at the Pacific Conference Games and was a seven-time Australian champion in the event.