The IAAF is deeply saddened to hear that Britain’s Basil Heatley, the 1964 Olympic marathon silver medallist and former world record-holder for the distance, died on Saturday (3) at the age of 85.
Born on Christmas Day in 1933, Heatley was a promising youngster and earned podium finishes at the national level as a youth and junior at cross country. He made his marathon debut in 1956 and reduced his PB to 2:23:01 one year later, but didn’t run the distance again for six years.
Between 1957 and 1964 he made seven appearances at the International Cross Country Championships, the forerunner to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He won the individual senior men’s title in 1961, improving on his silver medal from four years prior.
 |
| Basil Heatley in one of his many shining moments on the podium at Tokyo |
Later in 1961 he clocked 47:47 for 10 miles, setting what was the 100th ratified world record by a British athlete. After returning to the marathon in 1963, he set a world best of 2:13:55 in June 1964, marking him as a medal favourite ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo later that year.
There was no stopping defending champion Abebe Bikila in Tokyo, though. Just weeks after having his appendix removed, the Ethiopian retained his title and set a world record of 2:12:11. In the race for the silver medal, Heatley passed Japan’s Kokichi Tsuburaya with just 110 metres to go inside the Olympic stadium and took the silver medal in 2:16:19.
Heatley retired at the end of 1964 but went on to work as a team manager for the national athletics team.
IAAF
I remember first hearing of Basil Heatley with his 47:47 World Record at Ten Miles. An easy time to remember.
Our friend Bruce Kritzler has the following memory of Mr. Heatley.
Went to Puerto Rico in 1979 for San Blas Half Marathon. Basil Heatly was team manager for the English runners. Very laid back guy, told me which bed I could use in the dormitory type set up. Also showed me where I could get free meals, as the only US athlete currently in town.
Hooked up with couple of Indiana U./Puerto Rican athletes (Jamie Velez ?) and drank a couple bottles of Pink Champale the night before the race. Had a great race (around 30th) beat Samson Kimombwa (WSU) and nearly caught Lasse Viren at end.
Great trip,
Bruce
George: Saw your coverage of Heatley. He was one of the best interviews I ever had. Long article on racingpast. I was there—actually jogging around in the mid-field—for his 47:47 WR. I shouted myself coarse cheering him on. Last year, Japan public tv asked for my help to contact him as they were making a film for the 2020 OG and wanted to recapture his amazing silver in 1964—at the expense of a Japanese. He was a great CC runner too; saw him win the British Nationals at Parliament Hills. John Cobley
Clik here for John's interview with Heatley Basil Heatley
Note: This is the day after the shootings in El Paso and my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. I've been working on another piece, but really couldn't devote the energy at the moment to put it onto the blog. Then the news of Basil Heatley came in, and seeing how it was about a runner of our time, I purloined the IAAF posting and placed it on our blog as well. Too many good times, good music, questionable food, and fun with friends and family were spent in the Oregon District of Dayton over the years to not be stunned by that event. For almost three years we lived less than a quarter mile from the shooting site. I often walked through that area to go to the library, or get a hamburger at Wimpy's, or look for bargains at the Goodwill Store, or laugh at comedians at Wiley's Comedy Club. A friend just sent a picture of David Dawg Grisman playing at the Trolley Stop with Red Allen and the Allen Brothers across the street from where the shooting took place. How I miss those days. People did dastardly things back then too, but not to the extent we do today. I won't editoralize on my feelings about guns, gun control, mental health and other contributing factors other than to say we are long overdue to show some resolve to find viable solutions to those problems. As a mediator for the past 25 years, I've learned that public spoutings accomplish very little. But when both sides of an issue can sit down together in private and listen to each other, sometimes they can find middle ground where they can work together. George
 |
| Dawg Grisman and Red Allen on the right with Red's sons at the Trolley Stop about 1982 |
No comments:
Post a Comment