Hill, George Albert (1889-1969), Harrier and Olympian

• Hill, Albert

Most distinguished Harrier in our history in terms of achievement, being one of that small group who have carried off two Gold medals in one Olympic Games. This he did in 1920 in Antwerp, winning the 800m and 1500m. He was a remarkable runner, even if his times, judged by that unreliable yardstick of merit, the stopwatch are now totally undistinguished. On the occasion in 1921 when he set a new british mile record of 4.13.8 in that year's AAA Championship, which time would not now gain him an AAA standard medal, he had to cope with a field given as 22 by Athletics Weekly but 44 in a history of miling written by a former Administrative Officer of the AAA! Either figure would give him no chance of his then target, 4.08, over 4 seconds inside the world record which belonged to American's Norman TABER.

Albert later became coach to the Poly Harriers and others, during which time he guided a great Sydney Wooderson to World 880 and 1 miles records. A magnificent stylist and a lovable, modest man, Albert Hill will be remembered as long as athletics lasts.

Let the Chief American coach at those 1920 Games have the last word: "I regard Albert Hill as the wonder man of the Meeting. He is in his middle thirties, yet he scalped young American athletes in two events. He is a grand chap."