John Tait (athlete)

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For other people of the same name, see John Tait.

John Lindsay "Jack" Tait (September 25, 1888 – July 10, 1971) was a Canadian athlete. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He was born in Toronto, Ontario.

In 1908, 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, as he finished fourth.

Tait also competed in the 1908 marathon and the 5 miles, failing to finish in either event.

In 1912, 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 won a gold medal in the Mile at the Festival of the Empire held at Crystal Palace, London in 1911. He also set a new World Indoor Record for 880 yards (1 minute, 54 seconds) in 1909. Tait ran for the West End YMCA of Toronto for his entire career.

In 1910 Tait ran a series of indoor "match" races against George V. Bonhag, the undefeated world's "indoor king". Tait defeated Bonhag in 2 of 4 races held in New York City and Buffalo, NY., and in one of his victories set a New World Record for 1.5 miles. Tait was celebrated as a conquering hero upon his return to Canada.

"Jack" Tait lived on Dovercourt Rd. in Toronto's west end, where from 1903-1907 his neighbors were the Rev. Edwin Pearson family. Fifty years later, one of Rev. Pearson's sons, Lester Bowles Pearson (Prime Minister of Canada from 1963-1968), let it be known publicly that Jack Tait was his boyhood idol from the time he was six years old.

Tait is also the grandfather of Paul Gregory Williams, Canadian record holder for 3,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 metres from 1984-1994. Williams was a 3-time Olympian in 1984, 1988 and 1992, a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist (10,000 metres) in 1990, and the first Canadian ever to run under 28 minutes for 10,000 metres.

[edit] References

• Cook, Theodore Andrea (1908). The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report. London: British Olympic Association. 
• De Wael, Herman (2001). Athletics 1908. Herman's Full Olympians. Retrieved on 30 July 2006.
• Wudarski, Pawel (1999). Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich. Retrieved on 30 July 2006. (Polish)

Persondata
NAME	Tait, John Lindsay
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Tait, Jack
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Canadian athlete
DATE OF BIRTH	25 September 1888
PLACE OF BIRTH	Toronto, Canada
DATE OF DEATH	July 10, 1971
PLACE OF DEATH	Toronto, Canada