John Wilfred LOARING

Johnny Loaring was not an experienced athlete when he attended the 1936 Summer Olympics, but his iron will and determination nearly saw him defeat favorite and experienced athlete Glenn Hardin from the United States in the 400 m hurdle event. His efforts, which yielded silver in the 400 m hurdles, fourth in the 4×400 m relay, and sixth in the 400 m, earned him the title of the toughest competitor at the Games by the German media. This also made him the only Canadian male to have competed in all of the 400 m events, a distinction that still stands as of the 2008 Summer Olympics. His next stop was the 1938 British Empire Games, where he found even more success, winning gold medals in the 440 yards hurdles, the 4×110 yards relay (with Larry O'Connor and the non-Olympians Jack Brown and Pat Haley), and the 4×440 yards relay (with Lee Orr, Bill Fritz, and the non-Olympian Bill Dale). He also placed fifth in the 440 yards event.

The onset of World War II, however, ended his athletic career and he served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1940 until 1947, his last two years as commander of the HMCS Hunter. He later worked as coach and official, founded the Windsor Aquatics Club, and ran a construction business. He was inducted into the Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame in December 2009 as one of the inaugural 15 members, and is also a member of the Canadian Olympic, Canadian Amateur Athletic, Windsor/Essex County Sports and University of Western Ontario cross-country/track and field and swimming and diving halls of fame.

Personal Bests: 400 – 48.0ye (1938); 400H – 52.6y (1938).