Mike McLeod (athlete)
 McLeod in 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Michael James McLeod | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | British | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 January 1952 Dilston, Northumberland, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Elswick Harriers, Newcastle upon Tyne | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Michael James McLeod (born 25 January 1952) is a British former athlete who competed mainly in the 10,000 metres.
Athletics career
[edit]McLeod competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles in the 10,000 metres where he won the silver medal. He only finished third but second placed Martti Vainio had been disqualified for taking anabolic steroids. Race winner Alberto Cova has since admitted to using blood transfusions during his career, and there has been speculation that McLeod could and should therefore be eventually awarded the gold medal.[1]
McLeod ran for Elswick Harriers of Newcastle upon Tyne from an early age winning many races on a regional, national and international scale. One of his greatest achievements was being presented with an Olympic silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, the best performance by a British athlete at that time. Twice winner of the Golden 10,000 metre which seems to be now known as the world championships. McLeod won the Morpeth to Newcastle road race on five occasions with 63 minutes and 25 seconds being his best time in 1980. He won the Saltwell Harriers 10k road race 17 years in a row. McLeod also won the first Great North Run and went on to win it again the following year. He competed abroad and won the Giro al Sas 10K race in Italy in 1984.[2]
McLeod represented England and won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres event at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada.[3] Four years later he represented England, once again in the 10,000 metres event, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Australia.[4] A third Commonwealth Games appearance arrived in 1986 when he represented England at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.[5][6]
Personal life
[edit]McLeod's son Ryan is now a professional runner. McLeod is his coach.[7] His brother is Olympian Tony McLeod.[8]
Business activities
[edit]McLeod is owner/director of Abacus Printers, based in Gateshead.[9] He is also President of Future Sport NE, a charity supporting young people in sport in the North East of England.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Athletics: McLeod: When we were the run kings". The Independent. 1 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ Albo d'Oro Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Giro al Sas. Retrieved on 2010-11-05.
- ^ "1978 Athletes". Team England. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "1982 Athletes". Team England. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "1986 Athletes". Team England. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ McGuirk, Bill (9 October 2014). "North East runner Ryan McLeod wins the British half-marathon title in Cardiff". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Olympic Profile". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "Abacus Printers LLP - OC327297 - NE10 0HW Pelaw Tyne & Wear incorporated 01/04/2007 - company credit reports and accounts - bizzy". Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
- ^ "FutureSport". Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
External links
[edit]- Mike McLeod at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Living people
- 1952 births
- Sportspeople from Northumberland
- English male long-distance runners
- British male long-distance runners
- Olympic athletes for Great Britain
- Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
- Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England
- Medallists at the 1978 Commonwealth Games