Murray Cheater

Born in Auckland on 26 January 1947, Cheater was the son of Robert Walter Cheater and Joycene Verona Cheater (née Clarke).^[1][2] His father later served as president of Athletics Auckland between 1964 and 1966.^[2]

Initially competing for the Papatoetoe Athletic Club, Cheater moved to Rotorua in the mid-1970s, becoming a member of the Rotorua Athletic Club, later the Lake City Athletic Club.^[2] He won the New Zealand national men's hammer throw title on ten occasions: every year from 1974 to 1984, except in 1980.^[3] He broke the New Zealand record for the event 16 times, recording his personal best of 71.20 m in January 1976.^[2][4]

Cheater represented New Zealand in the hammer throw at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, where he finished fifth with a best throw of 65.82 m.^[5] Two years later, he competed in the men's hammer throw at the 1976 Summer Olympics, recording a best throw of 67.38 m in the qualifying round, to finish in 16th place and not progress to the final.^[1][6]

Cheater finished third behind Barry Williams in the hammer throw event at the British 1972 AAA Championships^[7] and third behind Chris Black at the 1976 AAA Championships.^[8][9]

Cheater operated a contracting business in Rotorua.^[2] He died in Rotorua on 4 August 2020.^[4][10]

• Murray Cheater at World Athletics
• Murray Cheater at Olympics.com
• Murray Cheater at the New Zealand Olympic Committee
• Murray Cheater at Olympedia
• Murray Cheater at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)
• Murray Cheater at InterSportStats