Les Piggot

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Non-starter
SexMale
Full nameLeslie McDonald "Les"•Piggot
Used nameLes•Piggot
Born11 May 1942 in Glasgow, Scotland (GBR)
Died30 October 2022 in East Kilbride, Scotland (GBR)
Measurements180 cm / 70 kg
AffiliationsGarscube Harriers, Glasgow (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Despite not winning a AAA title, Scotland’s Les Piggot had a long athletics career as a sprinter. He was a Scottish international, represented Great Britain more than 50 times between 1965-76, and was team captain twice in the 1970s. He appeared in the Olympics and at two Commonwealth Games and European Championships. As a youngster, Piggot was both a fine sprinter and rugby player but was involved in a bad car accident after leaving school and spent six months out of action. He eventually returned to both sports and at the 1962 Rangers Sports and Glasgow Police meetings he enjoyed wins, which was the first notification that a successful sprinting career was about to unfold. Between 1964 and 1976 Piggot won 14 medals at the Scottish Championships. His last title was the 100 metres in 1976 when he beat the future Olympic champion Allan Wells. Piggot never won a national AAA title, but was runner-up to Bob Frith in the 60 yards at the 1967 Indoor Championships. He was then runner-up to Ron Green in the 100 metres at the senior AAAs in 1971, and Green was ahead of Piggot again when he finished third in both 1972 and 1973. He came close at the indoors in 1976 when runner-up again, this time to Chris Monk.

In his only Olympic appearance, at München in 1972, Piggot was eliminated in the quarter-finals in a 100 metres heat won by the eventual champion, Valery Borzov. In the sprint relay, Piggot and the Great Britain quartet were eliminated at the semi-final stage. Piggot competed in the 1970 and 1974 British Commonwealth Games and was the only Briton to appear in the final of the 100 metres at both Edinburgh and Christchurch, finishing eight and seventh respectively, and fourth and fifth with the relay squads. Piggot again came close to an international medal at the 1971 European Championships in Helsinki, but finished an unfortunate fourth in the relay, with the same time as bronze medallists Italy.

Piggot married fellow sprinter Morag Carmichael in 1968 and their son, Les junior, was also a sprinter and finished third in the 100 metres at the 1986 Lanarkshire Championships. For relaxation, Piggot enjoyed sailing with his family. Despite being an international athlete, Piggot maintained his roots and competed at club meetings and Highland Games in his native Scotland, where he was famous for enjoying a cigarette in between races.

Personal Best: 100 – 10.46 (1972).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Athletics GBR Les Piggot
4 × 100 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) Great Britain DNS
1972 Summer Olympics Athletics GBR Les Piggot
100 metres, Men (Olympic) 6 h3 r2/4
4 × 100 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) Great Britain 6 h2 r2/3