Walter Knox

Who was Walter Knox?

Walter Knox was a Canadian track and field athlete.

Born in Listowel, Ontario, Knox moved to Orillia, Ontario at the age of 15. In 1903, he attended Beloit College in Wisconsin. At the 1907 Canadian track championships, Knox won five national titles: 100 yards, pole vault, long jump, discus, and shot put. He toured the United States in 1908 and 1909 and competed in England and Scotland in 1911.

In 1912, he competed for the all-round professional championship against American John A. MacDonald, with Knox winning seven of the 10 events and the world title. He won the all-rould world title again in 1914, defeating F.R. Cramb of Scotland in Manchester by winning six of eight events. Knox coached the Canadian track and field team at the 1912 Summer Olympics and later became a travelling coach for the Ontario Athletic Commission and a coach at Queen's University. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida at age 73 after suffering a stroke. He was buried in Wellington, Ontario.

He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1960, and the Orillia Hall of Fame in 1966.