Sidney Hatch

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Men’s athletics
Olympic medalist
Sidney Hatch
Medal record
Silver	1904 St Louis	4 mile team

Sidney Herbert Hatch (August 18, 1883 – October 17, 1966) was an American athlete who competed for the United States in the 1904 Summer Olympics held in St Louis, United States in the 4 mile team where he won the silver medal with his team mates Jim Lightbody, William Verner, Lacey Hearn and Frenchman Albert Coray.

Sidney Hatch was also a well known marathon runner in his time. From 1904 through 1922 he ran more than 45 marathons with a score of victories including Chicago Marathon in 1909 and the Yonkers Marathon in 1911. He never failed to finish a marathon. He was a six time (1906, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1914, and 1915) winner of the Missouri Athletic Club's All Western Marathon in St Louis including the 1908 marathon that qualified him for the 1908 Olympics. He competed in the marathon in two Olympics, placing 8th in 1904 at St Louis and 14th in 1908 in London. He won a silver medal in the 1904 Olympics Four Mile team event. He also qualified for the 1912 Olympics but did not compete. He placed in the top 10 in the Boston Marathon several times with third place finishes in 1915 and 1916. He finished second in the Boston Marathon in 1917. In October 1916 he set a record in the 96 mile, Milwaukee to Chicago Run, completing the race in 14 hours, 50 minutes and 30 seconds.

He served as an Army messenger in WWI and was decorated for "extraordinary heroism" under fire at near Brieulles, France, 11 October 1918. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross as well as the French Croix de Guerre. After WWI he returned to run two more Boston marathons before retiring from marathon running. He was a letter carrier in River Forest, Illinois from 1923 to 1953, retiring at age 70. He and Gertrude Morris were married in 1921 and had three children; Herbert, and twin girls June and Jane.

He was born in River Forest, Illinois and died in Maywood, Illinois. Sidney is buried at the Chapel Hills Gardens West Cemetery, Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois.