Percy Wyer

English-born athlete Percy Wyer made his first major appearance for Canada at the age of 41, when he ran in the 1925 Buffalo Marathon and placed fifth, but he had been competing at (and winning) smaller tournaments as early as 1913. In 1926 he won the Detroit Marathon at an age when most track and field athletes have long since retired. Attending his first Summer Olympic Games in 1928, finishing 45th in a field of 69 marathoners, he soon set a personal best at the 1930 British Empire Games marathon, ending up in fourth place. He was an active competitor in Canada as well, finishing third and fourth in the 1929 and 1930 Hamilton Marathons respectively and capturing the Canadian National Championship in 1930. He fell to third place in 1931 and also finished sixth in that year’s Boston Marathon. Remaining in the bronze medal position at the 1932 Canadian Nationals, he was absent from major events until his fourth place finish at the 1934 Canadian Nationals and his eighth place run at that year’s Boston Marathon. He also appeared at the 1934 British Empire Games, finishing fifth in the marathon. After a victory at the 1935 Cleveland Marathon and third place at the 1935 Valley Forge-to-Philadelphia Marathon, Wyer made his final major appearance at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Although he only finished 30th out of 56 entrants, he did earn the title of oldest Olympic track and field competitor by running at the age of 53. Shortly afterwards he returned to Great Britain, where he died in June 1965.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-44:01 (1930).