Sydney Pierce

Following a brief but impressive sporting career Sydney Pierce became a noted diplomat, serving as an ambassador to Canada for many years. He attended McGill University in Montréal where he played football and was part of their track and field team. After only a few months of practice Pierce soon mastered the hurdles, winning both the Canadian amateur and collegiate high hurdles championships in 1923. One year later he was the college champion in the high and low hurdles, earning himself a place on the Canadian Olympic team. At the 1924 Paris Games, however, Pierce’s performance was disappointing after failing to advance from the heats of the 110 metres hurdles.

After graduating Pierce worked for the Montréal Gazette newspaper as a reporter before becoming a lecturer in political science at Dalhousie University in Halifax. By 1940 he joined the Department of Munitions and Supply, eventually becoming the chief of the economic division of the Department of External Affairs. Shortly after the end of World War II Pierce was appointed as Canada’s ambassador to Mexico, with him later serving in ambassadorial roles to Brazil, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Pierce was inducted into the McGill University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

Personal Best: 110H – unknown.