Once upon a time–back in the early years of the turbulent 1960s–Harry Jerome was one of the most famous Canadians on the planet.
Jerome was “The World’s Fastest Human,” an unofficial title bestowed by pundits and sportswriters that went to the holder of the fastest time of the 100-metre dash.
Harry Jerome, No. 133, of Canada hits the tape to win the fourth heat of the men’s 100-metre dash quarterfinals at the Olympics in Rome, Aug 31,1960. Finishing second is Britain’s Peter Radford, left, and finishing third is Kenya’s S.S. Antao, right. Jerome, who with Armin Hary of Germany, was considered the co-favourite to win the 100-metres at the Games, had to pull out of the semifnals due to a hamstring injury, costing him a chance at a gold medal. (AP Photo)
In fact, at one point, Jerome not only held the 100-metre title but the 100-yard title as well.
At the same time.
Returning from serious injury, he won a bronze medal in the 100 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Oct 15, 1964: Olympic gold medal winner Bob Hayes of the United States watches as silver medal winner Enrique Figuerola of Cuba congratulates bronze medallist Harry Jerome, right. (Allsport Hulton/Getty Images)
Through the course of his career, Jerome set seven world records and won gold at both the 1966 British Empire Games and the 1967 Pan American Games.
Jerome, whose family moved to Vancouver from Saskatchewan when he was 12, later became a teacher, a civil servant and an activist, and through it all, at least in his public appearances remained humble and modest.
Rightly, Jerome has been honoured many times over.
There’s even a statue of him in Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
A bronze statue of Harry Jerome in Stanley Park stands not far the track where Jerome trained in his early running career. (Getty Images/Robert Giroux)
Now, he is being honoured again.
As the CBC’s Karin Larsen reports, a refurbished track coming to West Vancouver Secondary School will be called the Harry Jerome Oval.
“The Harry Jerome Oval will personify who he was. It will personify young people coming and developing themselves, and learning that when they fall, they can get up and try again,” said Harry Jerome’s sister and former Olympic track athlete Valerie Jerome in a video earlier this month, announcing the project.
Jerome, who endured racism throughout his world record-breaking career, went on to advocate for athletes, youth and minorities in his later years. (Dale Barnes/CBC Still Photo Collection)
“The Harry Jerome Oval,” Larsen writes, “will join the growing family of Harry Jerome namesakes, including the Harry Jerome Community Centre in North Vancouver, the Harry Jerome Sports Centre in Burnaby, the Harry Jerome International Track Classic at Swangard Stadium, the Harry Jerome Indoor Games at the Richmond Oval, the Harry Jerome Track and Field Stadium in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, the Harry Jerome Weight Room at the University of Oregon and the Harry Jerome Awards, recognizing achievement in the Canadian Black business community.”
Jerome died in 1982 at age 42 from a brain aneurysm.
(A portfolio of Jerome photos, as well as photos of one of his legacies, the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic, can be found here.)
With files from CBC News (Karin Larsen)
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