Michael AGOSTINI

Mike Agostini was a Trinidadian who made the final in both short sprints at the 1956 Olympics, just missing a medal in the 200 with a fourth place. At the British Empire and Commonwealth Games he won gold in the 100 yards in 1954, and a bronze in that event in 1958, by then running for Canada. He won five medals at the 1955 and 1959 Pan American Games with two silvers and three bronzes, competing for the British West Indies in 1959. He was world ranked in the 100 every year from 1953-59, with best rankings of #4 in 1955 and 1959. He was twice world ranked in the 200, in 1956-57, ranking #3 in 1957. In May 1956, at Long Beach, California, Agostini ran 9.3 for 100 yards to equal the world record, but it was never ratified by the IAAF. In March 1956, at Bakersfield, California, he bettered the world record for 200 metres straight, recording 20.1, but there were only two timers so that mark was also not ratified.

Agostini studied in the United States, starting in 1954 at Villanova and then transferring to Fresno State, graduating in 1958 with a degree in economics. In the late 1950s he relocated to Melbourne, Australia where he started teaching high school English, history and geography. In 1964 he became sports director at Channel Nine in Sydney, and he also started a magazine, Track and Field, that year. Via his own company, MGA Publications, Agostini published magazines for over 25 years and authored 9 books. One book, The Greyhound in Australia, was a bestseller in Australia and still considered the primary reference book on greyhounds. For 25 years (1981-2006), Agostini served as the Honorary Consul and Consul-General in Australia to Trinidad & Tobago.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.2 (1958); 200 – 20.9y (1958).