Brant Little

Brant Little started gaining attention for his prowess in track athletics in the second half of the 1920s, and was seen as a promising prospect for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. At the Games, however, he competed in only one event, the 800 metres, and was eliminated in the semi-finals. He was also a reserve with the 4x400 metres relay team that won the bronze medal, but he did not compete. His next stop was the 1930 British Empire Games, where he was eliminated in the heats of the 880 yards. After receiving a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and set his sights on helping coach Canadians in the leadup to the 1940 Tokyo Olympics.

Unfortunately for Little, the war intervened, but he received a different opportunity in 1948 when he was invited to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) by the Ceylon Amateur Athletics Association to coach their national delegation. Duncan White’s silver medal in the 400 metre hurdles led to Little’s appointment as the University of Ceylon’s first Director of Physical Education. He used the position to develop the institution’s sport infrastructure and help it compete in inter-university and international tournaments. In particular, he developed the facilities at what would become the University of Peradeniya, formerly a campus of the University of Ceylon. In retirement, he moved back to Canada.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:53.0 (1928).