Alex Wilson (Canadian sprinter)
A Canadian track star who sprinted to Olympic bronze in 1928, then stunned the world with a relay silver four years later.
1905–1994 (age 89)·Canadian sprinter·Birthday: December 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Alex Wilson carved his name into Canadian athletic history with a pair of Olympic performances that showcased both individual grit and team brilliance. Born in Montreal, he announced himself on the global stage at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, capturing a bronze medal in the 800 meters. But it was in Los Angeles in 1932 that he delivered his masterpiece. After just missing the podium in the 400 meters, he anchored the Canadian 4x400 meter relay team to a stunning silver medal, setting a world record in the process. That record would stand for two decades. Wilson was a versatile force, dominating Canadian championships across multiple sprint distances throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s. His career bridged the era of amateur athletics and a more modern, competitive age, leaving a legacy of speed and resilience for Canadian runners who followed.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alex was born in 1905, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1905
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1905Born
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Started school
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1918Became a teenager
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could drive
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1923Could vote
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Turned 21
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1935Turned 30
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 40
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 50
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 60
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 70
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 80
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Died at 89
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 1928 Summer Games in Amsterdam.
- Anchored the Canadian 4x400 meter relay team to a silver medal and a world record at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Set a world record in the 4x400 meter relay (3:12.8) that stood for 20 years.
- Was a multiple-time Canadian national champion in events ranging from 400 to 800 meters.
Did You Know?
The world record his relay team set in 1932 was not broken until 1952.
He later moved to the United States, living in Texas where he worked as a teacher and coach.
He competed in two different individual events (800m and 400m) across his two Olympic appearances.
“In Los Angeles, we ran as one to take silver for Canada.”
