Bob Adams

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRobert "Bob"•Adams
Used nameBob•Adams
Born20 December 1924 in Alsask, Saskatchewan (CAN)
Died23 February 2019
AffiliationsSaskatoon TFC, Saskatoon (CAN)
NOC Canada

Biography

Bob Adams took up a variety of track and field athletic pursuits during his youth, having been inspired by Jesse Owens’ performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, but World War II cost him some of his best internationally competitive years. After the conflict, he established Canadian national records in the discus in 1949 and in the decathlon during the trials for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. At the Games, he finished 19th out of 28 entrants, with his best result being third in the discus. He was captain of the Canadian track and field delegation to the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, and just missed out on a medal in the pole vault, placing fourth, in addition to a 14th-place finish in the high jump.

Following his retirement from active competition, due to a knee injury suffered in 1955, Adams served as a coach at both the local and national levels, joining the Canadian delegation at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, as well as the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, he served as the chief pole-vaulting judge at the 1976 Montreal Games. He was also involved in sports administration, founding the Saskatoon Track Club and serving as President of the Saskatchewan Track and Field Association, as well as several advisory boards. He supported track and field athletes through the Bob Adams Foundation and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.

Personal Best: Dec – 6636* (1952).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics CAN Bob Adams
Discus Throw, Men (Olympic) DNS
Decathlon, Men (Olympic) 19