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James Wilson (athlete)

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Scottish athlete

James Wilson
James Wilson at the 1920 Olympics
Personal information
Born2 October 1891
Windsor, Berkshire, England
Died1973 (aged c. 81)
London Borough of Brent, Great Britain
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event10,000 m
ClubGreenock Glenpark Harriers
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Mile – 4:28.0 (1915)
4 miles – 20:22.4 (1920)
6 miles – 30:45.0 (1920)
10,000 m – 31:50.8 (1920)
10 miles – 52:04.4 (1920)
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1920 Antwerp Cross country team
Bronze medal – third place 1920 Antwerp 10,000 m
International Cross Country Championships
Representing  England
Gold medal – first place 1914 Amersham Team
Representing  Scotland
Gold medal – first place 1920 Belfast Individual
Bronze medal – third place 1920 Belfast Team
Bronze medal – third place 1924 Newcastle-on-Tyne Team

James Wilson (2 October 1891 – 1973) was a Scottish long-distance runner who specialised in the 10,000 metres. He competed for Great Britain at the 1920 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres, five seconds behind Paavo Nurmi; Wilson beat Nurmi by some 5 seconds in the heats. He finished fourth in the individual 8,000 m cross-country race, again behind Nurmi, but won a silver medal with the British team. Nationally Wilson won Scottish titles over 4 miles in 1914–20 and over 10 miles in 1920.

James and his twin brother John were the youngest of five children of Isabella and Robert Wilson, Scottish migrant workers in England. His father was a herdsman from Aberdeenshire. James and John were inspired to join the local athletics club by watching the 1908 Olympic marathon race that passed nearby their home. Later, when World War I broke out, John enlisted to the army and died from peritonitis in 1916, while James stayed at home earning his living as a metalworker. After the 1920 Olympics he found a job as mechanical engineer at the Neasden Power Station, which provided electricity to the Metropolitan Railways, and semi-retired from running. He resumed competing in 1923, when he joined Surrey Athletic Club, but never regained his past shape and retired for good in 1925.

Wilson was married to Annie Williams. He died from a bowel cancer aged 81–82.

References

  1. ^ James Wilson. anentscottishrunning.com. 13 August 2013
  2. ^ James Wilson Archived 6 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  3. James Wilson. trackfield.brinkster.net
  4. "James Wilson". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
Men's champions of the International Cross Country Championships
Short course
Unofficial race


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