Alfred Ernest Tysoe (21 March 1874 – 26 October 1901) was an English athlete, and winner of two gold medals at the 1900 Olympic Games representing Great Britain.

Biography

Born in the Old Vicarage,

Padiham Padiham ( ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the River Calder, Lancashire, River Calder, in the Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, Lancashire, England. It is located north west of Burnley, and north ea ...

, near

Burnley Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2021 population of 78,266. It is north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River B ...

England, Tysoe ran part-time with the Skerton Harriers running team while still working as a farm labourer. In 1896, he won the Northern Counties 1000 y and one mile titles. His running successes brought him to the attention of Harold Hardwick, founder of Salford Harriers in 1884; in 1897 Tysoe was persuaded to join the Salford club. Within his first year with Salford Harriers, he had won the Amateur Athletic Association Championships in the one and ten miles events at the 1897 AAA Championships. In 1898, he helped the team to win their sixth National Cross Country championship. At the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, Tysoe was a favourite in the 800 m, having just one week before the games won the

1900 AAA Championships The 1900 AAA Championships was the 1900 edition of the annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA). It was held on Saturday 7 July 1900 at the Stamford Bridge (stadium) Stamford Bridge () ...

in 1:57.8. He won easily, beating John Cregan from the United States by 3 yards. He also won a gold medal as part of the British team in the 5000 m team race. This proved to be his last season on the running track. In 1901, he became severely ill with

pleurisy Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is inflammation of the membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity (Pulmonary pleurae, pleurae). This can result in a sharp chest pain while breathing. Occasionally the pain may be a constant d ...

and died at his home in

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Irish Sea coast of the Fylde peninsula, approximately north of Liverpool and west of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. It is the main settlement in the Borough of Blackpool ...

, aged 27. He is buried in Layton Cemetery, Blackpool. His gravestone reads: "In loving memory of Alfred Ernest Tysoe. Amateur Champion half-mile runner of the world. Born 21 March 1874, Died 26 October 1901. 'Brief life is here our portion, brief sorrow, short-lived care. The life that knows no ending, the tearless life is there.' This stone was erected by the many admirers of this famous athlete, by whom he was held in the highest esteem."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tysoe, Alfred 1874 births 1901 deaths English male middle-distance runners British male middle-distance runners English Olympic competitors Sportspeople from Padiham Olympic athletes for Great Britain Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain Athletes (track and field) at the 1900 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1900 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Burials in Lancashire