George GOULDING

George Goulding started as a distance runner, but was never very successful at that discipline. He was persuaded to try walking when he paced a friend in a local race. He entered several races in the spring of 1908 and won the Canadian Championships that year over 3 miles. In the Canadian winter he trained indoors and by snowshoeing. By 1912 he had set world records over every distance from 2-10 miles, and defeated the British champion Ernest Webb in a match race. After Goulding won his Olympic gold medal in the 10 km., he sent a telegram home to his wife which read only, )Won – George).

Personal Bests: 10kmW – 44:57.4 (1915); Mar – unknown.