Alex Oakley

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameAlexander Harold "Alex"•Oakley
Used nameAlex•Oakley
Born26 April 1926 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (CAN)
Died24 October 2010 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (CAN)
Measurements184 cm / 67 kg
AffiliationsGladstone AC, Toronto (CAN)
NOC Canada

Biography

Canadian Alex Oakley moved from Saint John’s, Newfoundland to Ontario to pursue a career with General Motors and found himself walking several miles each day to check inventory around the plant. He soon took up racewalking and was talented enough to earn a place among Canada’s athletic delegation to the 1956 Summer Olympics, where he competed in the 20km walk. This catalyzed a lifelong career in international athletics, which included participation at four more Summer Olympics (1960, 1964, 1972, and 1976) at the 20 and 50km distances and numerous appearances at Commonwealth and Pan American Games, as well as Masters’ Tournaments later in life. Perhaps his most notable success was his gold medal victory in the 20km walk at the 1963 Pan American Games in Sao Paulo. When new qualification rules were introduced by his home country, he nearly didn’t make his fifth and final Olympic appearance, but was granted a spot on the team after protests that the standards were too stringent. He did, however, lower his age by anywhere from 1-3 years in interviews that year, fearing that people would not accept a 50 year-old athlete on an Olympic squad. He is a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador and Oshawa Sports Halls of Fame.

Personal Bests: 20kmW – 1-34:11t (1962); 50kmW – 4-26:59 (1963).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics CAN Alex Oakley
20 kilometres Race Walk, Men (Olympic) DQ
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics CAN Alex Oakley
20 kilometres Race Walk, Men (Olympic) 9
50 kilometres Race Walk, Men (Olympic) 6
1964 Summer Olympics Athletics CAN Alex Oakley
20 kilometres Race Walk, Men (Olympic) DNF
50 kilometres Race Walk, Men (Olympic) 14
1972 Summer Olympics Athletics CAN Alex Oakley
50 kilometres Race Walk, Men (Olympic) 21
1976 Summer Olympics Athletics CAN Alex Oakley
20 kilometres Race Walk, Men (Olympic) 35

Special Notes

Errata

Date of birth is uncertain. Commonwealth Games data also has a DOB of 26 April 1929, but multiple sources confirm the DOB listed above.