Ray Lewis (sprinter): Difference between revisions
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He was born and died in [[Hamilton, Ontario]]<ref name=memproj2>{{cite press release| title = "Tigertown Triumphs"| publisher =The Hamilton Spectator-Memory Project (Souvenir Edition) page MP56| date =2006-06-10| accessdate = 2007-01-28}}</ref>. Lewis was [[nickname]]d ''Rapid Ray'' for his speed on the track. While excelling in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metre distances in high school, Lewis was subjected to [[racism]] from coaches, teachers and the public. Despite this, he captured seventeen national championships (including a record four in one day) while a student at Hamilton's Central Collegiate. |
He was born and died in [[Hamilton, Ontario]]<ref name=memproj2>{{cite press release| title = "Tigertown Triumphs"| publisher =The Hamilton Spectator-Memory Project (Souvenir Edition) page MP56| date =2006-06-10| accessdate = 2007-01-28}}</ref>. Lewis was [[nickname]]d ''Rapid Ray'' for his speed on the track. While excelling in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metre distances in high school, Lewis was subjected to [[racism]] from coaches, teachers and the public. Despite this, he captured seventeen national championships (including a record four in one day) while a student at Hamilton's Central Collegiate. |
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Lewis briefly attended Milwaukee's [[Marquette University]] on a scholarship, but returned to Canada after only a semester. He found a position on the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CPR) as a porter during the [[Great Depression]], a job he would hold for 22 years. Lewis continued training – often running alongside the CPR train tracks during stopovers on the [[Canadian Prairies]] – and won a bronze medal as part of the 4x400 metre relay team at the [[Canada at the |
Lewis briefly attended Milwaukee's [[Marquette University]] on a scholarship, but returned to Canada after only a semester. He found a position on the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CPR) as a porter during the [[Great Depression]], a job he would hold for 22 years. Lewis continued training – often running alongside the CPR train tracks during stopovers on the [[Canadian Prairies]] – and won a bronze medal as part of the 4x400 metre relay team at the [[Canada at the 1932 Summer Olympics|1932 Summer Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles, California]]. In the [[Athletics at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres|400 metre event]] he was eliminated in the quarter-finals. |
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Two years later he won a silver medal in the mile relay (4×440 yards) at the [[1934 British Empire Games|British Empire Games]] (later the Commonwealth Games). In the 440 yards competition he was eliminated in the semi-finals. Narrowly missing the cut for [[Canada at the 1936 Summer Olympics|Canada's 1936 Olympic team]], he ran for two more years before retiring after a bout of pain from shin splints; shin splints had caused Lewis problems in the latter part of his running career. He received greater recognition later in his life, including the [[Order of Canada]] in 2001. In 2002, Canadian author [[John Cooper]] wrote his biography, ''Rapid Ray: The Story of Ray Lewis''. The children's book chronicled his youth in Hamilton, as well as his training for the Olympics. A Hamilton school named in his honour, Ray Lewis Elementary, was opened in 2005 and is occasionally visited by his widow Vivienne. |
Two years later he won a silver medal in the mile relay (4×440 yards) at the [[1934 British Empire Games|British Empire Games]] (later the Commonwealth Games). In the 440 yards competition he was eliminated in the semi-finals. Narrowly missing the cut for [[Canada at the 1936 Summer Olympics|Canada's 1936 Olympic team]], he ran for two more years before retiring after a bout of pain from shin splints; shin splints had caused Lewis problems in the latter part of his running career. He received greater recognition later in his life, including the [[Order of Canada]] in 2001. In 2002, Canadian author [[John Cooper]] wrote his biography, ''Rapid Ray: The Story of Ray Lewis''. The children's book chronicled his youth in Hamilton, as well as his training for the Olympics. A Hamilton school named in his honour, Ray Lewis Elementary, was opened in 2005 and is occasionally visited by his widow Vivienne. |
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Revision as of 18:30, 9 March 2010
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Athletics | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1932 Los Angeles | 4x400 metre |
| British Empire Games | ||
 |
1934 London | 4×440 yards |
Raymond "Ray" Gray Lewis, CM (October 8, 1910 – November 15, 2003) was a Canadian track and field athlete, and the first Canadian-born black Olympic medalist.
He was born and died in Hamilton, Ontario[1]. Lewis was nicknamed Rapid Ray for his speed on the track. While excelling in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metre distances in high school, Lewis was subjected to racism from coaches, teachers and the public. Despite this, he captured seventeen national championships (including a record four in one day) while a student at Hamilton's Central Collegiate.
Lewis briefly attended Milwaukee's Marquette University on a scholarship, but returned to Canada after only a semester. He found a position on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as a porter during the Great Depression, a job he would hold for 22 years. Lewis continued training – often running alongside the CPR train tracks during stopovers on the Canadian Prairies – and won a bronze medal as part of the 4x400 metre relay team at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. In the 400 metre event he was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Two years later he won a silver medal in the mile relay (4×440 yards) at the British Empire Games (later the Commonwealth Games). In the 440 yards competition he was eliminated in the semi-finals. Narrowly missing the cut for Canada's 1936 Olympic team, he ran for two more years before retiring after a bout of pain from shin splints; shin splints had caused Lewis problems in the latter part of his running career. He received greater recognition later in his life, including the Order of Canada in 2001. In 2002, Canadian author John Cooper wrote his biography, Rapid Ray: The Story of Ray Lewis. The children's book chronicled his youth in Hamilton, as well as his training for the Olympics. A Hamilton school named in his honour, Ray Lewis Elementary, was opened in 2005 and is occasionally visited by his widow Vivienne.
References
- ^ ""Tigertown Triumphs"" (Press release). The Hamilton Spectator-Memory Project (Souvenir Edition) page MP56. 2006-06-10.
{{cite press release}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help)
- sports-reference.com
- John Cooper (2002). Rapid Ray: The Story of Ray Lewis. Tundra Books. ISBN 0-88776-612-9.
- Rapid Ray's Triumph, by John Cooper, Maclean's Magazine, December 27, 2004 edition, page 88.
- Obituary from CBC
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- 1910 births
- 2003 deaths
- Canadian sprinters
- Black Canadian sportspeople
- Olympic track and field athletes of Canada
- Athletes at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Olympic bronze medalists for Canada
- Commonwealth Games competitors for Canada
- Athletes at the 1934 British Empire Games
- Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Canada
- Members of the Order of Canada
- Sportspeople from Ontario
- People from Hamilton, Ontario
- Canadian track and field athletics biography stubs
- Canadian Olympic medalist stubs