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It is #IndigenousHistoryMonth and this is the story of Tom Longboat, the greatest distance runner in Canadian history!
Tom Longboat was born on the Six Nations Reserve on July 4, 1886. In 1901, fellow reserve resident Bill Davis ran in the Boston Marathon, inspiring Tom.
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Tom Longboat was born on the Six Nations Reserve on July 4, 1886. In 1901, fellow reserve resident Bill Davis ran in the Boston Marathon, inspiring Tom.
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In 1905, Tom began to run races & in the following year he won the Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton.
In 1907, he won the Boston Marathon, setting a record time in the process.
Due to poor planning by organizers, he collapsed while running in the 1908 Olympics.
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In 1907, he won the Boston Marathon, setting a record time in the process.
Due to poor planning by organizers, he collapsed while running in the 1908 Olympics.
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To train, he did hard work outs, alternating with active rest. Promotors and press called him lazy but his method of having hard, easy & recovery days is now a normal party of training in running.
By 1909, back problems started to plague him, impacting his times.
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By 1909, back problems started to plague him, impacting his times.
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The press blamed "Indian laziness" for his poor showings.
Tom's back began to improve through his training though & he won two major races in 1911.
During the First World War, he was a dispatch runner & was twice wounded & twice declared dead.
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Tom's back began to improve through his training though & he won two major races in 1911.
During the First World War, he was a dispatch runner & was twice wounded & twice declared dead.
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Having escaped from Residential School as a child, when he was asked to come back and speak, he responded:
"I wouldn't even send my dog to that place."
In 1919, Tom retired from running for good.
In his amateur career, he lost only 3 races.
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"I wouldn't even send my dog to that place."
In 1919, Tom retired from running for good.
In his amateur career, he lost only 3 races.
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Tom died in 1949.
He is a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
The Tom Longboat Awards were created in 1951 to honour Indigenous athletes.
A race on Toronto Island is also named for him. A school in Scarborough was also named for him.
Learn more 👇
canadaehx.com/2022/08/08/tom…
He is a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
The Tom Longboat Awards were created in 1951 to honour Indigenous athletes.
A race on Toronto Island is also named for him. A school in Scarborough was also named for him.
Learn more 👇
canadaehx.com/2022/08/08/tom…
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