(19 April 1879 – 18 April 1957) was a British runner who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He won the gold medal in the 3-mile team race and a silver in the steeplechase.

Biography

Robertson born in Sheffield, was the son of a Glasgow doctor and was educated at Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow, before moving to King's School, Peterborough at the age of 14. A brilliant all-round sportsman, he initially concentrated on cycling and only took up serious athletics at the age of 25, after a cycling injury. Robertson won easily in the first round of the 3200 metres steeplechase, finishing in 11:10.0. In the final, he trailed for most of the race. At the bell, he passed one of the two then-leaders, American John Eisele. Robertson was not quite able to catch the other leader, however, and trailed fellow Briton Arthur Russell by two yards at the finish. His final time was 10:48.4. At the same Olympics he won gold as a member of the 5-man 3 mile team race with Joe Deakin, William Coales, Norman Hallows and Harold Wilson; the first Olympic gold won by a Scottish and Birchfield athlete. He also participated in the five miles event and finished fifth. His brother David was a member of the British cycling team at the same olympics.

Robertson was posthumously inducted into the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame in 2004.

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Further reading

  • Buchanan, Ian British Olympians. Guinness Publishing (1991)
  • Databaseolympics.com