Johnny Miles
Encyclopedia
John "Johnny" C. Miles, CM
(October 30, 1905 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian
marathon
runner. He won the Boston Marathon
in 1926 and 1929.
Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire
, he moved with his family to Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
. He won the Canadian five-mile (8 km) championship in 1925 and the Halifax Herald 10 miles (16.1 km) competition in the same year. Between his two wins in Boston, Miles won the Canadian 10000 metre championship in 1928. He later won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 1930 British Empire Games
. He represented Canada at the 1928 Summer Olympics
and finished 17th in the 1928 Olympic marathon
. Four years later at the 1932 Summer Olympics
he finished 14th in the Olympic marathon race.
In 1982, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
and the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Miles died at age 97 in Hamilton, Ontario
. At the time of his death, he was Canada's oldest living Olympic athlete.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(October 30, 1905 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian
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...
marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
runner. He won the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in 1926 and 1929.
Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, he moved with his family to Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
Sydney Mines is a former town in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Founded in 1784 and incorporated as a town in 1889, Sydney Mines has a rich history in coal production, although mining activity has now ceased.Prior to a permanent settlement being established, there was significant...
. He won the Canadian five-mile (8 km) championship in 1925 and the Halifax Herald 10 miles (16.1 km) competition in the same year. Between his two wins in Boston, Miles won the Canadian 10000 metre championship in 1928. He later won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 1930 British Empire Games
1930 British Empire Games
The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario in Canada from August 16–23, 1930....
. He represented Canada at the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
and finished 17th in the 1928 Olympic marathon
Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's marathon
Men's Marathon event at the 1928 Summer Olympics took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Sunday, August 5, 1928. The race started on 15.14h local time. A total number of 57 athletes completed the race, with Willem van der Steen from Holland finishing in last position in 3:29:21. There were 69...
. Four years later at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
he finished 14th in the Olympic marathon race.
In 1982, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
and the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Miles died at age 97 in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. At the time of his death, he was Canada's oldest living Olympic athlete.