David Ottley
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | British (English) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 August 1955 West Thurrock, Essex, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Javelin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Telford/Thurrock Harriers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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David Charles Ottley (born 5 August 1955) is a retired British athlete who mainly competed in the men's javelin throw event. He competed at three Olympic Games.[1]
Biography
[edit]Ottley finished second behind Peter Maync in the Javelin event at the 1976 AAA Championships but by virtue of being the highest placed British athlete was considered the British javelin throw champion.[2] The following year he won the title outright at the 1977 AAA Championships.[3]
Ottley represented England, at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada[4] before going to his first Olympic Games in 1980. At the 1980 Olympics Games in Moscow, he represented Great Britain in the javelin throw event.[1]
After two second place finishes in the AAAs, and then two third place finishes (the latter as the highest placed British athlete) he won the 1982 AAA Championships to continue his domination as Britain's leading javelin thrower.[5] A second Commonwealth Games appearance for England ensued at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.[6]
His finest moment came when he won a silver medal in the Javelin event at 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.[1] He won three consecutive AAAA titles from 1984 to 1986 and represented England for a third time at the Commonwealth Games, winning a gold medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.[7][8]
Ottley won his sixth and last AAA title at the 1988 AAA Championships,[3] the same year that he went to a third Olympic Games in Seoul.[1] Altogether he won six AAA titles and was British champion ten times and he paved the way for the likes of Mick Hill and Steve Backley. Additionally he won five UK Athletics Championships from 1978 to 1982.
Personal life
[edit]Ottley is referenced In "The Boy Who Cried Rat" episode of Good Morning Miss Bliss, in which Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) proclaims that nobody remembers second place, referencing the javelin throw of 1984 Summer Olympics. Miss Bliss however correctly identifies that the silver medallist was indeed Ottley.[citation needed]
Ottley now resides in Shropshire, having moved home from Essex to Telford,[9] and has two children.
International competitions
[edit]| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Great Britain and  England
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| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 2nd | 85.74 m |
| 1986 | Commonwealth Games | Edinburgh, United Kingdom | 1st | 80.62 m |
| 1987 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | 9th | 77.64 m |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Biographical Information". Olympedia. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "Wells is top UK Sprinter". The Scotsman. 14 August 1976. Retrieved 7 June 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "1978 Athletes". Team England.
- ^ "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "1982 Athletes". Team England.
- ^ "1986 Athletes". Team England.
- ^ "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
- ^ Elderwick, David (1989). 50 Shropshire Celebrities, Past and Present. IMPRINT, Newtown, Wales. p. 47.
- Profile Archived 30 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- David Ottley at World Athletics
Commonwealth Games champions in men's javelin throw | |
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- Living people
- 1955 births
- People from West Thurrock
- English male javelin throwers
- British male javelin throwers
- Olympic athletes for Great Britain
- Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
- World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain
- Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)
- FISU World University Games silver medalists for Great Britain
- Medalists at the 1977 Summer Universiade
- Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics