 London 1908 Olympics-Walker wins 100 metres | |||||||||||||||
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| Born | Reginald Edgar Walker (1889-03-16)16 March 1889 | ||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 November 1951(1951-11-05) (aged 62) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Reginald Edgar Walker (16 March 1889 inDurban – 5 November 1951) was a South Africanathlete and the 1908Olympic champion in the 100 metres.[1]
Born in theColony of Natal, Walker, the 1907 South African Champion, was not among the big favourites for the 100 metres at the1908 Summer Olympics. He even had trouble getting toLondon, as he lacked the necessary finances until a Natal sportswriter collected funds to support Walker's travel. In England, he was coached bySam Mussabini, later also the coach ofHarold Abrahams.
Several of the big names did not qualify for the final, but Walker did. His first round was a relatively easy victory run in 11.0 seconds. In the second round, Walker edged outWilliam W. May of theUnited States while tying the Olympic record of 10.8 seconds. This qualified him for the final. There he competed against three North Americans, includingJames Rector of the United States, who had equalled the Olympic record in both of the qualifier rounds. Walker beat Rector in the final by about a foot and half, again equaling the Olympic record in 10.8 seconds.
Walker was still the youngest winner of the Olympic 100 metres as of 2021[update] (at 19 years and 128 days).
DuringWorld War I, Walker served with the 7th Infantry inGerman South West Africa, before joining theSouth African Overseas Expeditionary Force in 1917, serving inFrance, during which time he received a gunshot wound to the head. Walker was discharged from the Army in 1919 and later worked as a clerk withRopes & Mattings inNairobi,Kenya Colony, before returning to South Africa.[2]
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