Jackie Gibson (athlete)

Henry Alfred "Jackie" Gibson (31 March 1914 – 15 January 1944) was a South African long-distance runner. He finished eighth in the marathon at the 1936 Summer Olympics. At the 1938 Empire Games he won the bronze medal in the marathon and placed sixth in the 6 miles contest.

Jackie Gibson

Gibson (center) running marathon at the 1938 British Empire Games
Personal information
Born	31 March 1914[1] Johannesburg, South Africa
Died	15 January 1944 (aged 29)[2] Eshowe, South Africa
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Marathon
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	2:30:45 (1937)[1][3]
Medal record Representing  South Africa British Empire Games 1938 Sydney Marathon

Gibson served in the South African Air Force where he reached the rank of Lieutenant in the 25 Squadron. He died along with the rest of the crew in an aircraft accident when their Lockheed B-34 Ventura II #6026 flew into a hilltop near Eshowe, Natal during bad weather.[4] He was buried in the Stellawood Cemetery in Durban.[2]

In commemoration of his success in athletics, the Jackie Gibson Memorial Marathon was inaugurated in 1946 and is the oldest marathon in Johannesburg.

References

1. Jackie Gibson. sports-reference.com
2. "Gibson Henry A. (Jackie)". The South African War Graves Project. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
3. Jack Gibson. trackfield.brinkster.net
4. Spring, Ivan (1995). Flying boat: the history of 262 Squadron RAF and the origins of 35 Squadron SAAF. Spring Air. p. 47. ISBN 0958397724.