Hall of Fame


Alex Oakley

Category: Athlete
Inducted: Saturday, June 24, 2006

An amazing five appearances in a Canadian uniform as a race walker in the Olympics places Alex Oakley among the finest athletes to come out of Newfoundland and Labrador. This amazing demonstration of his race walking talent has earned Oakley election to the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame and the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame.

With five Oylmpic races to his credit between 1956 and 1976, he has competed in more Olympics than any other Canadian male athlete. He made the decision on his own not to enter the 1968 Olympics. His record includes a disqualification in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia, ninth in the 20 kilometer race in 1960 at Rome, 14th in the 50 kilometer event in 1964 in Tokyo, 31st in the 50 kilometer race in 1972 at Munich, Germany and, at the age of 50, 35th in the 20 kilometer event in 1976 at Montreal.

In addition to the Olympics, Alex Oakley won numerous race walking events all over the world and against the best possible competition. He won gold medals in Pan-American Games and World Masters Games and raced in two Commonwealth Games. When he was elected to the Oshawa, Ontario Hall of Fame, he was inducted with hockey greats Bobby Orr and Harry Sinden. Since the St. John's native spent most of his life in Oshawa, this induction indicates the respect that he earned there.

In recognition of his brilliant race walking career at all levels of competition, Alex Oakley was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame November 4, 1988.


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