George Orton

George Orton.

George Washington Orton (born January 10, 1873 in Strathroy , Ontario , † June 26, 1958 in Meredith , New Hampshire ) was a middle-distance runner and the first Canadian to become an Olympic champion . He is considered to be the inventor of shirt numbers on the jerseys of athletes in team sports.

Orton first studied at the University of Toronto before moving to the University of Pennsylvania in 1893 . Even then he was one of the best middle-distance runners in North America. He has won Canadian, US and British championship titles in the 1 mile , 2 miles and obstacle course . His Canadian national record over 1 mile (4: 21.8 min) remained unbeaten for 30 years. He won a total of 121 races. In 1896 he graduated with a Ph.D. ( Doctor of Philosophy ), but continued to be active in sports. His career as an athlete is amazing as he was injured so badly after an accident at the age of three that he could not walk properly until he was ten. His right arm was dysfunctional throughout his life. Orton played ice hockey very well .

The high point of his career was the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris . Because he was on the team at a US university (there were no national teams at the time), it took a few years to find out that he was actually Canadian. Orton started in three competitions, the obstacle courses over 2500 and 4000 meters and the 400 meter hurdles . Over 4000 meters he only achieved fifth place, but became Olympic champion over 2500 meters. He finished third in the hurdles (back then the third-placed finishers were left empty-handed).

He later coached Pennsylvania University and wrote a book on the history of athletics at the university and other books related to sports, including running techniques. He spoke nine languages ​​and died at the age of 85.

Web links

• George Orton in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )

Individual evidence

1. ^ The forgotten Olympic gold medalist, who in fact is Canadian. In: Radio Canada Online. March 4, 2019, accessed April 13, 2019 .