Hazzard Dill

Florentus Hazzard Willis Dill was born on 1 September 1918 in Sandys Parish, Bermuda.^[1] During World War II, he fought as part of the First Caribbean Regiment in Italy and Egypt, under the rank of Gunner.^[2][3] Before his time in the regiment, Dill had trained as a runner. Determining that to run faster he needed strong legs, he trained by running with 5-pound (2.3 kg) weights strapped to each leg; this practice ended after he enlisted, where he was instructed in physical training techniques.^[4] During his time in the military, Dill competed in athletics events for War Certificates which had monetary value.^[5] In 1942, Dill set a Bermudian record of 52.0 in the 440-yard run.^[3] After the war, he went onto join the Bermuda Amateur Sports Association, an organisation that was created to support black athletes.^[6]

At the Bermuda Olympic Track and Field Trials for the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, Dill set a new Bermudian record of 53.6 seconds in the 400 metres, and he was part of the team that set a new Bermudian record of 45.8 in the 4 × 100 metres relay.^[7] On 22 June 1948, the Bermuda Olympic team was announced, which included Dill as one of the twelve athletes selected.^[8] The 1948 delegation was the first Bermudian Olympic team to include black athletes, of which Dill was one.^[6]

Dill represented Bermuda at the Olympics in the 200 metres, 400 metres, and the men's 4 × 100 metres relay.^[1] In the 200 metres, he finished fifth in his heat,^[9] in the 400 metres, he ran a time of 45.4 to finish third in his heat,^[10][11] and in the 4 × 100 metres relay,^[12] the Bermudian team finished fifth in their heat with a time of 45.4. He did not progress to the second round in any event.^[9][10][12]

While away at the Olympics, Hazzard became the father of a son.^[13] At the 1952 Bermuda Olympic Trials, Dill placed second in the 400 metres,^[14] and at a 1953 meet pitting Bermudan athletes against Royal Navy athletes, he won the 220 yards event.^[15]

After the Olympics, he worked for the Department of Education to look after Bermuda's playing fields.^[2]

In 1944, Dill married Mabel Louis Butterfield.^[16] He lived in Pembroke and had at least two sons, named Paul and Malcolm.^[2][17][18] In 1994, he won an award at the Bermuda House of Assembly for his sporting achievements.^[19] He died on 20 August 2001 in Bermuda.^[1]