Colin Smith

Personal information
Nationality	British (English)
Born	2 August 1935 Harlesden, London
Died	21 December 2014 (aged 79)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	javelin throw
Club	Thames Valley Harriers
Medal record Men'sAthletics Representing England British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1958 Cardiff Javelin throw 1962 Perth Javelin throw

Colin George Smith (2 August 1935 – 21 December 2014) was a British formertrack and field athlete who specialised in thejavelin throw. He was the gold medallist for theEngland athletics team^[1] in the event at the1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, setting agames record mark of 71.29 m (233 ft10+1⁄2 in) to win the title. He returned to defend his title in 1962 and was much improved with a lifetime best throw of 77.94 m (255 ft8+1⁄2 in), but he was beaten into the silver medal position by Australia'sAlf Mitchell.^[2][3]

Born inHarlesden, London, he took upthrowing events while a young teenager at school. Trained by Bill Plumridge he went on to compete in over forty internationals for England and Great Britain.^[4] Smith competed twice at theEuropean Athletics Championships, taking part in 1958 and again 1962, but did not perform well and failed to make the final round in either attempt.^[5]

He was a three-time winner at theAAA Championships, winning in1958,1959 and1963.^[6][7][8] Prior to that he won the AAA Junior title in 1953.^[9] He was a member ofThames Valley Harriers during his career.^[10]

Smith served as a coach even in his younger years and assembled a training group comprising the majority of Britain's best throwers, includingDave Travis andJohn FitzSimons (both Commonwealth champions in their own right),John McSorley (a British record breaker), andJohn Kitching

In 1972, Smith and his family emigrated to Australia.^[4] After retirement in theNew South Wales country, Smith, along with his wife and daughter, remained involved inathletics and coached regional level athletes aroundSydney.^[4] Colin Smith died 21 December 2014.^[11]

• AAA Championships
  • Javelin throw: 1958, 1959, 1963

• 1935 births
• 2014 deaths
• People from Harlesden
• Athletes from the London Borough of Brent
• British men javelin throwers
• Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England
• Athletes (track and field) at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
• Athletes (track and field) at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
• British athletics coaches
• British emigrants to Australia
• Medallists at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
• Medallists at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
• Members of Thames Valley Harriers
• English men javelin throwers
• 20th-century English sportsmen
• Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics

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