Alex Oakley

Canadian Alex Oakley moved from Saint John’s, Newfoundland to Ontario to pursue a career with General Motors and found himself walking several miles each day to check inventory around the plant. He soon took up racewalking and was talented enough to earn a place among Canada’s athletic delegation to the 1956 Summer Olympics, where he competed in the 20km walk. This catalyzed a lifelong career in international athletics, which included participation at four more Summer Olympics (1960, 1964, 1972, and 1976) at the 20 and 50km distances and numerous appearances at Commonwealth and Pan American Games, as well as Masters’ Tournaments later in life. Perhaps his most notable success was his gold medal victory in the 20km walk at the 1963 Pan American Games in Sao Paulo. When new qualification rules were introduced by his home country, he nearly didn’t make his fifth and final Olympic appearance, but was granted a spot on the team after protests that the standards were too stringent. He did, however, lower his age by anywhere from 1-3 years in interviews that year, fearing that people would not accept a 50 year-old athlete on an Olympic squad. He is a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador and Oshawa Sports Halls of Fame.

Personal Bests: 20kmW – 1-34:11t (1962); 50kmW – 4-26:59 (1963).