Billy Sherring

Billy Sherring (actually William John Sherrington, born September 18, 1878 in Hamilton, Ontario, † September 5, 1964 ) was a Canadian marathon runner and Olympic champion.

Sherring was, together with his compatriot Jack Caffery, the 1900 and 1901 Boston Marathon won before Sherring, the world's best marathon runners of the time. Both belonged to the St.Patrick ' s Athletic Club in her hometown of Hamilton, who organized a benefit concert to fund their participation in the 1906 Summer Olympics, the only revenue of $ 75 resulted. Caffery renounced after the trip. Sherrington used the money for a horse bet. The horse with the name Cicely brought him luck and at a rate of 6:1 and the money for the trip to Athens.

Sherring, by profession a brakeman on the railroad, Athens reached seven weeks before the start of the Olympic Games. During this time, he found work at the local railway company.

The marathon started on 1 May at 14:00 clock. The 45 -kg Sherring held after starting back at first. Halfway through the race he took the lead, built this constantly and eventually ran to the finish as the winner. The last 50 meters was Prince Constantine beside Sherring. Length of the route of the marathon, which varied up to the Olympic Games in 1924, 1906 was 41.86 km. Sherring required for 2:51:23 h and was thus almost 7 minutes before the Second, John Svanberg. As the winner Price Sherring got a live ram and a statue of the goddess Athena.

Sherring received after returning to his homeland in addition to various cash prizes and a triumphant reception. After his success, he retired from active competition and worked at the customs in Hamilton. His experience, however, was still in demand. As coach of the Canadian marathon runner, he accompanied his team to the Olympic Games 1908 in London.

Sherrings hometown of Hamilton was during the turn of the 19th century to the 20th century as a stronghold of the long distance runner, not least because here the oldest long -distance running in North America and one of the oldest long-distance competitions ever held and held until today, the Around the Bay Road Race. In honor of Sherring you renamed the race over 30 km in Billy Sherring Memorial Road Race. In addition, a small park in Hamilton was named after him, the Billy Sherring Park, and at a historical site near Hamilton established the Province of Ontario in 1976 a plaque.