Alfred Tysoe

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Olympic medalist
Alfred Tysoe
Medal record
Men's athletics
Gold	1900 Paris	800 metres
Gold	1900 Paris	5000 metre team race

Alfred Ernest Tysoe (March 21, 1874 – October 26, 1901) was a British athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1900 Olympic Games.

Born at Padiham, near Burnley, England, Tysoe ran part-time with the Skerton Harriers running team while still working as a farm labourer.

In 1896 he won the Northern Counties 1000 yd and the one mile titles. His running successes brought him to the attention of Harold Hardwick, founder of Salford Harriers in 1884, and in 1897 Tysoe was persuaded to join the Salford team. Within his first year with Salford Harriers, he had achieved the Amateur Athletics Association championships in one mile and ten miles. In 1898 he helped the team to win their sixth National Cross Country championship.

At the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, Tysoe was a favourite in the 800 m, having just two weeks before the games broken the world record by running the 800 yd in 1 minute 57.8 seconds. He won easily, beating John Cregan from the United States by 3 yards. He also won a gold medal as part of the British team in the 5000 me team race.

This proved to be his last season on the running track, as in early 1901 he became severely ill with pleurisy. He died at his home in Blackpool, aged 27.

He is buried in Layton Cemetery, Blackpool. His gravestone reads: "In loving memory of Alfred Ernest Tysoe. Amateur Champion half-mile runner of the world. Born March 21st 1874, Died October 26th 1901. 'Brief life is here our portion, brief sorrow, short-lived care. The life that knows no ending, the tearless life is there.' This stone was erected by the many admirers of this famous athlete, by whom he was held in the highest esteem."

I would appeal to any member of the TYSOE family to visit Alfred Tysoe's grave in Layton Cemetery without delay. It has been seriously vandalised and unworthy of such a great athlete who brought glory not only on himself, but to his country.

Olympic champions in men's 800 m

1896: Teddy Flack | 1900: Alfred Tysoe | 1904: Jim Lightbody | 1906: Paul Pilgrim | 1908: Mel Sheppard | 1912: Ted Meredith | 1920: Albert Hill | 1924: Douglas Lowe | 1928: Douglas Lowe | 1932: Thomas Hampson | 1936: John Woodruff | 1948: Mal Whitfield | 1952: Mal Whitfield | 1956: Tom Courtney | 1960: Peter Snell | 1964: Peter Snell | 1968: Ralph Doubell | 1972: Dave Wottle | 1976: Alberto Juantorena | 1980: Steve Ovett | 1984: Joaquim Cruz | 1988: Paul Ereng | 1992: William Tanui | 1996: Vebjørn Rodal | 2000: Nils Schumann | 2004: Yuriy Borzakovskiy

Pre-WWI British Olympic champions in men's athletics

1900: Alfred Tysoe (800 m) | 1900 Charles Bennett (1500 m) | 1900 John Rimmer (4000 m steeplechase) | 1900 Charles Bennett, John Rimmer, Sydney Robinson, Alfred Tysoe and 1 Australian, Stanley Rowley (5000 m team race) | 1904 Tom Kiely (all around) | 1906 Henry Hawtrey (five miles) | 1906 Emil Voigt (five miles) | 1906 Cornelius Leahy (high jump) | 1906 Peter O'Connor (triple jump) | 1908 Wyndham Halswelle (400 m) | 1908 Arthur Russell (3200 m steeplechase) | 1908 George Larner (3500 m walk & ten miles walk) | 1908 Tim Ahearne (triple jump) | 1912 Arnold Jackson (1500 m) | 1912 David Jacobs, Henry Macintosh, Victor d'Arcy & William Applegarth (4x100 m relay)