Archie Robertson

Who was Archie Robertson?

Archie Robertson was a Scottish athlete who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.

He was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire and died in Peterborough, Huntingdonshire.

The son of a Glasgow doctor, Robertson was educated at Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow before moving to King's School, Peterborough at the age of 14. A brilliant all-round sportsman, he initially concentrated on cycling and only took up serious athletics at the age of 25, after a cycling injury.

In 1906, he joined Birchfield Harriers.

In March 1908 he won both the English and International Cross-Country Championships and a second place finish in the 4 mile race at the AAA championship earned him a place at the Olympics.

Robertson won easily in the first round of the 3200 metres steeplechase, finishing in 11:10.0. In the final, he trailed for most of the race. At the bell, he passed one of the two then-leaders, American John Eisele. Robertson was not quite able to catch the other leader, however, and trailed fellow Briton Arthur Russell by two yards at the finish. His final time was 10:48.4. At the same Olympics he won gold as a member of the 3-man 3 mile team race; the first Olympic gold won by a Scottish man and the first by a Birchfield athlete. He also participated in the five miles event and finished fifth. His brother D.C. Robertson was a member of the British cycling team at the same olympics.