Albert Hill
Encyclopedia
Albert George Hill (24 March 1889 – 8 January 1969) was a British
athlete
, winner of two Olympic
gold medals at the 1920 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Tooting
, London
, Hill started out as a long distance runner, winning the British AAA championships over 4 miles in 1910. Hill served with the Royal Flying Corps in France during World War I
.
After the war, Hill returned as a middle-distance runner. Coached by Sam Mussabini
(coach of 100 m Olympic Champions Reggie Walker
and Harold Abrahams
), he won the 880 yd and 1 mile at the 1919 AAA championships and then equalled the British record of 4:16.8 for 1 mile. He nearly was not selected for the Olympics the following year, the selectors considering the 31-year-old Hill too old. Finally, he was allowed to take part at the Olympics, which were held in Antwerp, Belgium
. He made the final in the 800m, which was a closely contested race. In the end, the 31-year-old Hill beat American Earl Eby
for the gold, setting a British record of 1:53.4 on a slow track.
Two days later, Hill completed the middle distance double by winning the 1500m as well, thus completing a "double" not replicated by a British athlete until Kelly Holmes
at the 2004 Olympics. Helped by his compatriot, Philip Baker (who would receive the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1959), he won comfortably, with Baker in second in a time of 4 min. 01.8 sec. Hill also competed in the 3000m team race event, in which the British team finished second, earning Hill's third Olympic medal.
Hill won the 1921 AAA mile championship in a British record of 4 min. 13.8 sec, this was 1.2 seconds outside the world record and the second fastest amateur time ever. Hill ended his running career in 1921 and became a coach himself, his most famous protege being Sydney Wooderson
. He emigrated to Canada
shortly after World War II
, and died there in 1969.
In 2010, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
athlete
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
, winner of two Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medals at the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
.
Born in Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Hill started out as a long distance runner, winning the British AAA championships over 4 miles in 1910. Hill served with the Royal Flying Corps in France during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After the war, Hill returned as a middle-distance runner. Coached by Sam Mussabini
Sam Mussabini
Scipio Africanus "Sam" Mussabini was an athletics coach best known for his work with Harold Abrahams. In total he coached athletes to a total of eleven Olympic medals over five Olympics...
(coach of 100 m Olympic Champions Reggie Walker
Reggie Walker
Reginald Edgar Walker was a South African athlete and the 1908 Olympic champion in the 100 metres.-Biography:...
and Harold Abrahams
Harold Abrahams
Harold Maurice Abrahams, CBE, was a British athlete of Jewish origin. He was Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metres sprint, a feat depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...
), he won the 880 yd and 1 mile at the 1919 AAA championships and then equalled the British record of 4:16.8 for 1 mile. He nearly was not selected for the Olympics the following year, the selectors considering the 31-year-old Hill too old. Finally, he was allowed to take part at the Olympics, which were held in Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He made the final in the 800m, which was a closely contested race. In the end, the 31-year-old Hill beat American Earl Eby
Earl Eby
Earl William Eby was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 800 metres.He competed for the United States in the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium in the 800 metres where he won the silver medal.He was born in Aurora, Illinois and died in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.-References:*...
for the gold, setting a British record of 1:53.4 on a slow track.
Two days later, Hill completed the middle distance double by winning the 1500m as well, thus completing a "double" not replicated by a British athlete until Kelly Holmes
Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes, DBE, MBE is a retired British middle distance athlete. She specialised in the 800 metres and 1500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...
at the 2004 Olympics. Helped by his compatriot, Philip Baker (who would receive the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
in 1959), he won comfortably, with Baker in second in a time of 4 min. 01.8 sec. Hill also competed in the 3000m team race event, in which the British team finished second, earning Hill's third Olympic medal.
Hill won the 1921 AAA mile championship in a British record of 4 min. 13.8 sec, this was 1.2 seconds outside the world record and the second fastest amateur time ever. Hill ended his running career in 1921 and became a coach himself, his most famous protege being Sydney Wooderson
Sydney Wooderson
Sydney Charles Wooderson MBE , dubbed "The Mighty Atom", was an English athlete whose peak career was in the 1930s and 1940s. He was one of Britain’s greatest middle-distance runners and had an amazing sprint finish...
. He emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
shortly after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and died there in 1969.
In 2010, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame
England Athletics Hall of Fame
The England Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in 2008 with a panel of experts selecting a list of potential inductees for athletics fans and members of the public to vote on. The Hall of Fame honours those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of athletics in England...
.