Tuesday 4 September 2012

Adelaide's own Olympian!


Algis Ignatavičius

Born October 11, 1931 in Kaunas.

Algis was 25 when he represented Australia in the 1956 Olympic Basketball team held in Melbourne. He was a member of the first ever Australian basketball team in Olympic Competition in Melbourne – 1956 (12th place).

He won two Woolacott medals for the fairest and most brilliant district basketballer in 1955 and 1956. The Woollacott Medal was donated by the Basketball Association of South Australia on behalf of Noel Woollacott's Emporium. Noel Woollacott was killed in action during World War II. Originally given to the Best and Fairest player in the District competition, the Noel Woollacott Trophy eventually evolved into the Woollacott Medal and upgraded to Fairest and Most Brilliant in the early 1970s.

He was known as the ‘Hunter’, as he would bring the ball down, looking for an opportunity and then shoot.  Although not tall he was a good shot.

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