Sidney Robinson (athlete)
Sidney Robinson ( John Sidney " Sid " Robinson, born August 1, 1876 in Denton, Northamptonshire, † February 3, 1959 in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire ) was a British long-haul and hurdler, who was Olympic champion in 1900.
Life
Sidney Robinson was the son of the carpenter William Robinson, who was head of the post office in Denton at the same time. Sidney had an older and three younger sisters. Like his father, he also learned the trade of carpenter, which he carried throughout his life.
His sporting interest led Robinson to the Northampton Cycling & Athletic Club. Here he developed obvious coordinative skills that predestined him for the steeplechase and cross-country running. In the first since 1864, competitively discharged athletics discipline steeplechase existed at that time, no specific standards for obstacles, underground and route length. Each run, even championship run, made new demands. 1896 Robinson scored his first victory at the British Championships in the steeplechase. 1897 and 1898 he won the Championship of the English Cross Country Union ( ECCU ). But Robinson also had excellent stamina, he with his victory in the championships of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA ), which corresponded to the British Championships, presented in 1898 for the ten miles to the test.
The year 1900 undoubtedly represented the culmination of the sporting career of Sidney Robinson represents a week before the start of the athletics competitions at the Olympic Games in Paris took place in London in the British Championships, where many athletes from the United States to prepare for the Games participated. Robinson impressed again with a win over 10 miles. His second win at the obstacle course over two miles ( 3218 meters) and 12 obstacles, then still without water ditch. The time of 11:18,8 minutes had historical significance since it was the first designated as a world record performance in these athletics discipline.
The obstacle course was the first time in 1900 on the program of the Olympic Games, and the interest in this young discipline was so large that it performed two runs. The first race over 2500 meters, in which in each round of 500 meters a hurdle, a wall and a moat had to be overcome, Sidney Robinson finished second, without being able to winner George Orton from Canada ever compromise. The second run over 4000 meters already took place the following day and was much more exciting. Orton, invalidated in contrast to Robinson from running the day before, this time played no role in the decision. But Robinson had some competition by his compatriots John Rimmer and Charles Bennett, who had not started the day before. Only just had to Robinson to admit defeat them and fell in third place in the target completely exhausted to the ground.
In the further course of the games Sidney Robinson eventually won in a joint British- Australian team a gold medal in the 5000-meter team running, along with his teammate John Rimmer, Charles Bennett, Alfred Tysoe and the Australian Stan Rowley, before the team from France. In this run, in which all runners a team together went to the start and the team title was decided on the place number, Robinson finished sixth.
Even after the games Robinson had to have some sporting success. With two more victories in the steeplechase at the British Championships in 1901 and 1903 he won four titles, thus confirming its superiority in this discipline. As a cross-country runners, he participated in competitions countries between England and France, the forerunner of the Cross of Nations were.
Placements at the Olympic Games
- II Summer Olympic Games in 1900, Paris 5000 m team - gold in the mixed team ( silver to France )
- 2500 m steeplechase - Silver with 7:35,8 min (Gold George Orton from Canada with 7:34,4 min; bronze to Jean Chastanié from France with 7:42,0 min)
- 4000 m steeplechase - bronze 12:58,8 min (Gold to John Rimmer from the United Kingdom, with 12:58,4 min; silver to Charles Bennett from the United Kingdom, with 12:58,6 min)
Note: With the exception of the time of the winner, transit times are estimated, as there was no time measurement for the runners. For them, the residue was found on the winner or pre-placed with a length specification.
Even if it had an award for the first three places are not given at the games in 1900 in its present form, with gold, silver and bronze medals, so that it can achieve from each one of the top three places by today's standards winning a so-called medal sets is and is regarded as exceptional athletic performance. Seen in Sidney Robinson is one of the most outstanding athletes at the Olympic Games.