Alec Olney
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Born | 4 January 1922 Hampstead, England |
| Died | 25 April 2017 (aged 95) Harrow, England |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | long-distance |
| Club | Thames Valley Harriers |
Henry Alexander Olney also known as Alec Olney (4 January 1922 – 25 April 2017) was a British long-distance runner who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.[1]
Biography
[edit]Born Henry Alexander Olney in Hampstead, he went by the name Alec and finished fifth in the English National Cross Country Championships in early 1947.[2] Olney then finished second behind Jef Lataster in the 3 miles event at the 1947 AAA Championships[3][4] and made his nternational debut against France.[2]
Olney was second again at the 1948 AAA Championships behind Wim Slijkhuis but by virtue of being the highest placed British athlete was considered the British 3 miles champion.[5] Shortly after his AAA success he represented the Great Britain team at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.[2]
In 1949, he won the Southern Counties Cross Country title and after finishing third at the 1949 AAA Championships[6] Olney married Beryl Thurley on 3 September 1949 in Willesden and the following year was on the podium again at the 1950 AAA Championships, runner-up behind Lucien Theys.[5]
Olney competed at the 1950 European Athletics Championships before taking up road racing.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Alec Olney". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Biographical Information". Olympedia. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ "Great run follows air-taxi dash". Daily News (London). 19 July 1947. Retrieved 9 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Army man steals limelight and 2 titles". Daily News (London). 21 July 1947. Retrieved 9 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
External links
[edit]- Alec Olney at Team GB
- Alec Olney at Olympedia
- 1922 births
- 2017 deaths
- Olympic athletes for Great Britain
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics
- People from Hampstead
- Athletes from the London Borough of Camden
- English male long-distance runners
- British male long-distance runners
- Members of Thames Valley Harriers
- 20th-century English sportsmen