Barry Patten, born in McKinnon, Victoria, in 1927, balanced his sporting career with his architectural studies. First educated at Caulfield Grammar followed by the Melbourne Technical College, he completed his degree at the University of Melbourne in 1951.
Education and Early Life
- School: Attended Caulfield Campus from 1941 to 1943.
- Higher Education:
- Studied at Melbourne Technical College.
- Completed his degree at the University of Melbourne in 1951.
Olympic Participation
- Discipline: Alpine Skiing.
- Olympic Games: Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics.
- Events: Downhill, Giant Slalom, and Slalom.
- Best Result: 67th place in the Olympic Downhill.
Architectural Career
After his Olympic experience, Barry went on to become a prominent architect. Many of the projects he worked on are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, including the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne.
Family Sporting Legacy
Sporting talent clearly ran in the family, as Barry’s son, Samuel Patten, is also an Olympian. Sam was part of the first iteration of the ‘Oarsome Foursome,’ a men’s rowing coxless four crew that achieved much success in the ’90s. A three-time Olympian, Sam won the Bronze medal with the men’s coxed eight at Los Angeles 1984 and a World Championships title with the Oarsome Foursome in 1990.
Honours
- Medal Awarded: In 2020, Barry Patten was honoured with a medal recognising his contributions and achievements.
Image Credit: Snow Australia
