Irving Parkes
Robert Irving Parkes (July 8, 1886 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada – September 23, 1964 in Manhattan, New York City) was a Canadian athlete. He competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.[1]
Parkes placed third in his semifinal heat of the 800 metres, not advancing to the final. He was also part of the Canadian 4 x 400 metres relay which placed 3rd in their heat and did not advance to the final.
In 1908, only the winners of the heats advanced to the final race. Parkes had the unfortunate draw to run in the second semifinal with the eventual champion and world record setter Mel Sheppard, who dominated the race.[citation needed] His personal record in the 800 metres was 1.57.1[2] and could have been sufficient to qualify him to the final.
As a boy, he played hockey, lacrosse, basketball and tennis and track. He set the Canadian record for the 880 and this record stood for 36 years. In later years Parkes became a golfer and enjoyed fishing. Parkes worked as art director for an advertising agency, McCann Erickson, in NYC.
References[]
- ^ "Irving Parkes". Olympedia. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ Irving Parkes at Sports Reference Sports Reference
Sources[]
- Cook, Theodore Andrea (1908). The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report. London: British Olympic Association.
- De Wael, Herman (2001). "Athletics 1908". Herman's Full Olympians. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
- Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 27 July 2006.
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- 1886 births
- 1931 deaths
- Athletes from Toronto
- Track and field athletes from Ontario
- Olympic track and field athletes of Canada
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics
- Canadian male middle-distance runners
- Canadian track and field athletics biography stubs