Article

George Goulding

Published Online August 5, 2008

Last Edited March 4, 2015

George Henry Goulding, track and field athlete (b at Hull, Eng Nov 1885; d at Toronto 3 Feb 1966). Originally attracted to marathon racing with the Toronto Central YMCA, George Goulding began "heel-and-toe" (walk)

Goulding, George Henry

 George Henry Goulding, track and field athlete (b at Hull, Eng Nov 1885; d at Toronto 3 Feb 1966). Originally attracted to marathon racing with the Toronto Central YMCA, George Goulding began "heel-and-toe" (walk) racing on a whim, first appearing internationally at the 1908 London Olympics; he placed 4th in the 3500 m walk. At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics George Goulding won gold in the 10 000 m walk. Turning to invitational track meets in Canada, Britain and the US, he won 300 races at distances from 1 to 40 miles. George Goulding competed in many stunt races, winning against a man driving a horse and buggy and against a 4-man US relay team, and attracted thousands of spectators wherever he competed.