James Wilson (athlete)

James Wilson

James Wilson at the 1920 Olympics
Personal information
Born	2 October 1891 Windsor, Berkshire, England
Died	1973 (aged c. 81) London Borough of Brent, Great Britain
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	60 kg (130 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	10,000 m
Club	Greenock Glenpark Harriers
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	Mile – 4:28.0 (1915) 4 miles – 20:22.4 (1920) 6 miles – 30:45.0 (1920) 10,000 m – 31:50.8 (1920) 10 miles – 52:04.4 (1920)
Medal record Representing Great Britain Olympic Games 1920 Antwerp Cross country team 1920 Antwerp 10,000 m International Cross Country Championships Representing England 1914 Amersham Team Representing Scotland 1920 Belfast Individual 1920 Belfast Team 1924 Newcastle-on-Tyne Team

James Wilson (2 October 1891 – 1973) was a Scottish long-distance runner who specialised in the 10,000 metres. He competed for Great Britain at the 1920 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres, five seconds behind Paavo Nurmi; Wilson beat Nurmi by some 5 seconds in the heats. He finished fourth in the individual 8,000 m cross-country race, again behind Nurmi, but won a silver medal with the British team. Nationally Wilson won Scottish titles over 4 miles in 1914–20 and over 10 miles in 1920.

James and his twin brother John were the youngest of five children of Isabella and Robert Wilson, Scottish migrant workers in England. His father was a herdsman from Aberdeenshire. James and John were inspired to join the local athletics club by watching the 1908 Olympic marathon race that passed nearby their home. Later, when World War I broke out, John enlisted to the army and died from peritonitis in 1916, while James stayed at home earning his living as a metalworker. After the 1920 Olympics he found a job as mechanical engineer at the Neasden Power Station, which provided electricity to the Metropolitan Railways, and semi-retired from running. He resumed competing in 1923, when he joined Surrey Athletic Club, but never regained his past shape and retired for good in 1925.

Wilson was married to Annie Williams. He died from a bowel cancer aged 81–82.