| Full Name: | Henry Edward Kerr |
| Birth Date: | 28 January 1879 |
| Birth Place: | Inglewood, New Zealand |
| Death Date: | 17 May 1951 (aged 72) |
| Death Place: | Taranaki, New Zealand |
| Height: | 1.84 m |
| Weight: | 76 kg |
| Sport: | Athletics |
| Relatives: | Winston Cowie (great-grandson) |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Henry Edward Kerr (28 January 1879 – 17 May 1951) was a New Zealand athlete who competed mainly in walking events.[1] He competed for Australasia in the 1908 Summer Olympics held in London in the 3500 metre walk where he won the bronze medal. This was the first time a New Zealand-born person had won an Olympic medal.[2] [3]
Kerr was born in Taranaki[2] and was a champion shooter and keen rugby player, as well as competing in a variety of track and field events.[2] Competing for a time as a professional he was required to stand down from competition for two years in order to regain his amateur status.[2] After winning numerous national titles Kerr virtually retired in 1912 and briefly served in World War I in mid-1918,[4] but returned to win two more national titles in 1925 at the age of 46.[2]
Kerr was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.[2]
On 13 July 2008 to commemorate the first Olympic Games medal by a New Zealander (actually on 14 July 1908) the Harry Kerr Centennial Walking Relay was held at Sovereign Stadium, Mairangi Bay, Auckland. Two events were held, a 5×10 km relay and a 3500 m individual event.[5] [6] A shield for the winning team was presented by Kerr's daughter-in-law.[6] [7] [8] It was proposed that this become an annual event,[7] but no subsequent events were held.
Kerr's great-grandson is New Zealand film director and rugby union player Winston Cowie.[9]
