Alec Olney

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameHenry Alexander "Alec"•Olney
Used nameAlec•Olney
Born4 January 1922 in Hampstead, England (GBR)
Died25 April 2017 in Harrow, England (GBR)
AffiliationsThames Valley Harriers, London (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Alec Olney had an impressive début season in 1947. He finished fifth in the National Cross-country Championships before representing England at the International Cross-Country Championship in Belgium, where he finished sixth and was the highest placed British runner. Turning to the track, he won the 3 miles in the Kinnaird Trophy meeting at Chiswick, and also the Middlesex title, before finishing second in the AAA 3 miles behind Dutchman Jef Lataster. Olney also made his International début for Great Britain against France that year. In the winter of 1947-48, he won the Thames Valley Harriers and Middlesex County cross-country titles before devoting more time to track work over the remaining winter months under the watchful eye of Sydney Wooderson, in readiness for the forthcoming Olympics. He dropped down to one mile for the 1948 Kinnaird Cup meeting and won the race on the tape, with Roger Bannister occupying fourth place in what was his first Kinnaird Cup race. Olney finished second again at the AAA, this time to another Dutchman, Wim Slijkhuis, who would take the bronze medal at the Olympics.

A salesman by profession, Olney was one of the favourites to qualify for the Olympic 5000 metres final at the White City, but he disappointed by finishing seventh in his heat. The following season he won the Southern Counties Cross-Country title before finishing third in the AAA 3 miles. In 1950 Olney finished second in the National Cross-Country Championship and represented England at the International Championship, finishing seventh. On the track he won the Kinnaird 3 miles and represented Great Britain at the European Championships in Belgium. He came close once again to that elusive AAA title but had to settle for another second place. In 1951, England, with Olney on the team, took first place in the International Cross-Country Championship, and that same year he retained his Kinnaird 3 miles title and in his final AAA, finished fifth. Later in his career he turned to road racing with his club Thames Valley Harriers, including participation in the coveted London-to-Brighton relay.

Personal Bests: 3 miles – 14:11.2 (1950); 5000 – 14:48.4 (1948)

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Athletics GBR Alec Olney
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 7 h3 r1/2