John Disley, Welsh steeplechase runner, Died at 87

  Sports

John Ivor Disley was born on November 20, 1928, in Corris, a village in Gwynedd and died on February 8, 2016.

He was a Welsh athlete.

John competed mainly in the 3000 metres steeplechase.

Disley attended Oswestry Boys High School.

Disley competed for Great Britain at the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki in the 3000 metres steeplechase where he won the bronze medal.

John Disley placed five British records in the steeplechase and four at two miles.

He also set Welsh records at six different distances. He also broke the record for the traverse of the Welsh 3000 foot peaks.

John Disley represented Wales twice at the Commonwealth Games, competing in 1954 and 1958, but did not win a medal either time.

He was the preeminent pioneer of Orienteering in the UK and was one of the founders of the London Marathon.

The Welsh runner became vice-chairman of the UK Sports Council in 1974, a post he held until 1982.

John was a member of the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame and was President of the Snowdonia Society.

John Disley passed away at 87 yrs old.