Mike Wiggs

Mike Wiggs made the first of two Olympic appearances at Roma in 1960 when he failed to progress beyond his 1,500 metres heat after finishing sixth. At Tokyo four years later, however, he reached the final of the 5,000 metres after winning his heat ahead of the eventual bronze medallist Bill Dwellinger of the USA. The final was run in extremely wet conditions, and on the second lap Wiggs was impeded by another runner and fell. He eventually finished 11th, and last, in a field that contained such notable distance runners as Ron Clarke, Kip Keino, and Michel Jazy. Wigg claimed after the race that he was pushed.

At Dublin in 1965, Wiggs was runner-up to Alan Simpson, who was making a bid on the world mile record. He failed, but Wigg ran a personal best 3:57.5. Also that year, Wiggs set new UK records for both the 5,000 metres (13:33.0) and three miles (13:08.7) during the World Games in Helsinki. At the start of 2025 they both remained Thames Valley Harriers club records.

Wiggs won many Hertfordshire County titles both on the track and cross-country, but he never won a senior AAA title. He finished second to the top Hungarian László Tábori in the 1960 one mile, however, with Frenchman Jazy in third place. Wiggs finished second again in 1964, this time to fellow Briton Simpson. On New Year´s Eve 1965 Wiggs finished second to the holder Gaston Roelants of Belgium in the annual New Year´s Eve Sao Paolo “Round the Houses race” over five miles.

Wiggs, who was trained by Gordon Pirie in the early part of his career, studied agriculture and economy at Houston University, USA, in the late 1950s. He later became a London public relations officer.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:40.7 (1964); 5000 – 13:33.0 (1965).