John Tait (athlete)
Encyclopedia
John Tait was a Canadian
athlete. Known as Canada's "Boy Wonder", he competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
in London
and the 1912 Summer Olympics
in Stockholm
. He was born in Toronto
, Ontario
.
In 1908, at just 19 years of age, Tait won his first round heat of the 1500 metres
with a time of 4:12.2. Despite the relatively slow time (other heat winners ran as fast as 4:03.4), Tait won by nearly fifty yards. His time in the final was much quicker, at 4:06.8, and he finished in fourth place.
Tait also competed in the 1908 marathon
and the 5 miles
, failing to finish in either event.
In 1912
, facing speculative news from doctors that his heart had become enlarged from eight gruelling years of training and competition, Tait finished fourth in his heat of the 1500 metres, failing to qualify for the final. He also competed in the marathon, again failing to finish.
Outside of the Olympics, Tait was one of the most versatile middle distance runners in the world, and one of the great milers of his era. In 1907, Tait finished just 10 yards behind Tom Longboat in the gruelling 15-mile Montreal Marathon road race, with both runners beingh watched in the streets by an estimated crowd of 200,000 people. He ran 4:05 for 1,500 metres at the 1908 Olympic Trials in Montreal, a Canadian record that stood until 1933. Tait won a gold medal in the mile at the Festival of the Empire held at Crystal Palace
(the one-time only forerunner to both the British Empire and Commonwealth Games), London in 1911.
Tait also set world indoor records for 880 yards (1:54) in 1909, 1,000 yards (2:14) and 1.5 miles (6:52) in 1910, and established Canadian records at 3 and 5 miles . He remained an amateur and worked throughout his athletic career, running for the West End YMCA of Toronto from 1902 to 1914. Overseeing his career during the "Y" days was his older brother Will Tait, a coach on the 1908 Canadian Olympic Team and manager of the Edmonton Gradettes women's basketball team from 1924 to 1936 (The Gradettes served as the junior/sister team to the world-famous Edmonton Grads).
Tait was well-known among fellow athletes and fans throughout North America for his raw talent, very public sense of fair play, and legendary humour. After running a slowish, tactical 4:47 to win the Festival of the Empire mile championship, Tait confessed sheepishly to a group of English reporters: "I'm telling you, boys, if I'd run a mile like that in my own country I'd be shot. They actually accused me of using my brains out there today! Can you imagine?."
Tait counted among his friends and teammates the likes of Mr. Longboat, Alfred Shrubb and Bobby Kerr, writers Doug Laurie and Lou Marsh, and the great American middle distance stars Abel Kiviat, George Bonhag and Melvin Shepherd. Kiviat remained the world's oldest living Olympic medallist through the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Astonishingly, after more than 60 years had passed since they last saw each other, Kiviat paid tribute to his great friendship and rivalry with Tait in a televised interview with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
After 1911 Tait also found fame as a sports reporter and columnist for the Mail and Empire, Toronto Telegram, Toronto Daily World and the Toronto Sunday World, co-founding the famous "Yap Yaps Corner" (a popular celebrity sports column) with Mr. Laurie. From 1915-18 he served double-duty in The Great War as an artillery gunner in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and as a war correspondent for the Telegram.
In 1910, Tait ran a series of famous indoor "match" races against George Bonhag, the undefeated world's "indoor king" and multiple Olympic medallist. Tait defeated the American in 2 of 4 races held in New York City at Madison Square Garden, and in Buffalo, NY. In one of his victories, Tait beat Bonhag in the Garden after the two were hilariously forced to share the same bed overnight due to overcrowding in the New York Athletic Club. The next day they both ducked under the existing world indoor record for 1.5 miles, with Tait ahead by 25 yards. He was later celebrated as a conquering hero in the Great Hall of the old West End YMCA at Queen St and Dovercourt Road.
Jack Tait actually lived on Dovercourt Road in Toronto's west end during his athletic career, where from 1903-1907 his neighbors were the Rev. Edwin Pearson family. Almost fifty years later, in 1952, one of Rev. Pearson's sons, Lester Bowles Pearson -- Prime Minister of Canada from 1963-1968 -- revealed publicly that Jack Tait was his first and most profound boyhood idol.
Tait is also the grandfather of Paul Williams
, former Canadian record holder for 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 metres between 1979 and 1992. Williams was a three-time Olympian in 1984, 1988 and 1992, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (10,000 m) in 1990, Goodwill Games gold medallist over 5,000 metres (1990), and the first Canadian ever to run under 28 minutes for 10,000 metres.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
athlete. Known as Canada's "Boy Wonder", he competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
In 1908, at just 19 years of age, Tait won his first round heat of the 1500 metres
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 1500 metres
The men's 1500 metres was an Olympic event for the fourth times at the 1908 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on July 13, 1908 and on July 14, 1908. The races were held on a track of 536.45 metres= mile in circumference...
with a time of 4:12.2. Despite the relatively slow time (other heat winners ran as fast as 4:03.4), Tait won by nearly fifty yards. His time in the final was much quicker, at 4:06.8, and he finished in fourth place.
Tait also competed in the 1908 marathon
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's marathon
The men's marathon race was held at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The race was held on July 24, 1908.The distance was the now-standard length of 26 miles, 385 yards . 75 competitors entered. 55 runners from 16 nations began the race, with 27 athletes finishing.The most famous incident of...
and the 5 miles
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 5 miles
The men's 5 miles race was held at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. It was discontinued after that in favour of the metric races of 5,000 and 10,000 metres. The competition was held on July 15, 1908 and July 18, 1908...
, failing to finish in either event.
In 1912
Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics
These are the results of athletics competition at the 1912 Summer Olympics. 30 events were contested, all for men only.The athletics programme grew by 4 events since the 1908 Summer Olympics. The 5000 and 10000 metre races were introduced for the first time, as the 5 mile event was eliminated...
, facing speculative news from doctors that his heart had become enlarged from eight gruelling years of training and competition, Tait finished fourth in his heat of the 1500 metres, failing to qualify for the final. He also competed in the marathon, again failing to finish.
Outside of the Olympics, Tait was one of the most versatile middle distance runners in the world, and one of the great milers of his era. In 1907, Tait finished just 10 yards behind Tom Longboat in the gruelling 15-mile Montreal Marathon road race, with both runners beingh watched in the streets by an estimated crowd of 200,000 people. He ran 4:05 for 1,500 metres at the 1908 Olympic Trials in Montreal, a Canadian record that stood until 1933. Tait won a gold medal in the mile at the Festival of the Empire held at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
(the one-time only forerunner to both the British Empire and Commonwealth Games), London in 1911.
Tait also set world indoor records for 880 yards (1:54) in 1909, 1,000 yards (2:14) and 1.5 miles (6:52) in 1910, and established Canadian records at 3 and 5 miles . He remained an amateur and worked throughout his athletic career, running for the West End YMCA of Toronto from 1902 to 1914. Overseeing his career during the "Y" days was his older brother Will Tait, a coach on the 1908 Canadian Olympic Team and manager of the Edmonton Gradettes women's basketball team from 1924 to 1936 (The Gradettes served as the junior/sister team to the world-famous Edmonton Grads).
Tait was well-known among fellow athletes and fans throughout North America for his raw talent, very public sense of fair play, and legendary humour. After running a slowish, tactical 4:47 to win the Festival of the Empire mile championship, Tait confessed sheepishly to a group of English reporters: "I'm telling you, boys, if I'd run a mile like that in my own country I'd be shot. They actually accused me of using my brains out there today! Can you imagine?."
Tait counted among his friends and teammates the likes of Mr. Longboat, Alfred Shrubb and Bobby Kerr, writers Doug Laurie and Lou Marsh, and the great American middle distance stars Abel Kiviat, George Bonhag and Melvin Shepherd. Kiviat remained the world's oldest living Olympic medallist through the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Astonishingly, after more than 60 years had passed since they last saw each other, Kiviat paid tribute to his great friendship and rivalry with Tait in a televised interview with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
After 1911 Tait also found fame as a sports reporter and columnist for the Mail and Empire, Toronto Telegram, Toronto Daily World and the Toronto Sunday World, co-founding the famous "Yap Yaps Corner" (a popular celebrity sports column) with Mr. Laurie. From 1915-18 he served double-duty in The Great War as an artillery gunner in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and as a war correspondent for the Telegram.
In 1910, Tait ran a series of famous indoor "match" races against George Bonhag, the undefeated world's "indoor king" and multiple Olympic medallist. Tait defeated the American in 2 of 4 races held in New York City at Madison Square Garden, and in Buffalo, NY. In one of his victories, Tait beat Bonhag in the Garden after the two were hilariously forced to share the same bed overnight due to overcrowding in the New York Athletic Club. The next day they both ducked under the existing world indoor record for 1.5 miles, with Tait ahead by 25 yards. He was later celebrated as a conquering hero in the Great Hall of the old West End YMCA at Queen St and Dovercourt Road.
Jack Tait actually lived on Dovercourt Road in Toronto's west end during his athletic career, where from 1903-1907 his neighbors were the Rev. Edwin Pearson family. Almost fifty years later, in 1952, one of Rev. Pearson's sons, Lester Bowles Pearson -- Prime Minister of Canada from 1963-1968 -- revealed publicly that Jack Tait was his first and most profound boyhood idol.
Tait is also the grandfather of Paul Williams
Paul Williams (athlete)
Paul Williams is a retired long-distance runner from Canada, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. His best result was finishing in 21st place in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California...
, former Canadian record holder for 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 metres between 1979 and 1992. Williams was a three-time Olympian in 1984, 1988 and 1992, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (10,000 m) in 1990, Goodwill Games gold medallist over 5,000 metres (1990), and the first Canadian ever to run under 28 minutes for 10,000 metres.