Lou Sebert

Lou Sebert was at his prime as a track and field athlete while he was a student at the University of Toronto in the late 1900s and early 1910s. This highlight of his career came when he was selected to represent Canada at the 1908 Summer Olympics in four events: individually in the 100, 200, and 400 m, and as a member of the 1,600 medley relay. In the former category, he only escaped the first round once, in the 400 m, winning his original heat before being defeated by William Robbins of the United States in the semifinal. In the relay, the Canadian squad, which included Sebert, Frank Lukeman, Don Buddo, and Irving Parkes, failed to qualify for the final.

Sebert continued to have a successful collegiate career until he retired from active competition following his 1912 graduation from the University of Toronto with a medical degree. He served in the Medical Corp during World War I and then returned to Toronto, where he joined the ophthalmology department at St. Michael’s Hospital, eventually rising to the position of surgeon-in-chief. He served administratively with Medical Corp during World War II, until his death from a two-month illness in December 1942. At the time, he was also on the athletic board of the University of Toronto.

Personal Bests: 100y – 10.0 (1909); 200 – 21.9y (1909); 400 – 48.9y (1909).