James Wilson (athlete), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

James Wilson (athlete)

Scottish athlete who competed mainly in the 10,000 metres

Date of Birth: 02-Oct-1891

Place of Birth: Windsor, England, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 01-Jan-1973

Profession: long-distance runner, athletics competitor

Nationality: United Kingdom

Zodiac Sign: Libra


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About James Wilson (athlete)

  • 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.

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