Mike Rawson

Mike Rawson joined Birchfield Harriers in 1954 after completing his two years’ National Service in the Army. He won both the 1956 Midlands and AAA 880 yards titles on the way to securing a place at that year’s Melbourne Olympic Games, where he narrowly missed reaching the final of the 800 metres.

Rawson regained the Midlands title from his training partner Mike Farrell in 1958 and also finished second in the AAA 880 yards, ahead of Australian star Herb Elliott. Rawson then won the 880 yards bronze medal behind both Elliott and his life-long fiend Brian Hewson at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. The following month, at the European Championships in Stockholm, Rawson won the 800 metres title, but his win was surrounded by controversy.

Immediately after crossing the line in first place, Rawson was disqualified because he ran a couple of yards on the infield at the start of the race. In those days, there was no staggered start for two-lap races and it was always a scramble to get to the opening bend first. It was in such a scramble that Rawson was pushed off the track. The British team strongly protested at the disqualification and, after three hours, Rawson was re-instated and eventually got his gold medal. Friends joked that Rawson was the only 795 metres champion in the history of track and field…

Rawson was second in the AAAs 880 three years in succession in 1957-59. His final AAA title was in 1965 when he won the 440 yards at the National Indoor Championships. After that, Rawson turned to coaching youngsters at Birchfield Harriers. He also worked as a freelance journalist and was at one time a press officer for the British Olympic Association. He was also an athletics reporter for the Birmingham Post. Rawson died in 2000 shortly after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:47.0 (1958).