Sending our sympathy: Olympian David Gracie; Chris Smith

Monday 2nd November 2020

Scotstats.net website profile of David Gracie

Scottish Olympian David Gracie has passed away at the age of 93.

David was a semi-finalist in the 400m hurdles at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

He also won the gold medal at the 1953 World Student Games in Dortmund and set a British record of 52.7 seconds for 440 yards hurdles in 1952. He won seven Scottish championship titles between 1949 and 1954 over 440 yards and 440 yards hurdles.

Originally from Stirlingshire, David grew up in Lanarkshire and was long associated with Larkhall YMCA Harriers as his club. His six years as an athlete also included his time at Glasgow University.

There is a full career summary on the Athletes section of the scotstats.net website.

We send our sympathies at this time to the family and friends of David Gracie.

Here's an article regarding David Gracie by Doug Gillian https://t.co/b825504PuI cc @scotathletics

— ScouseTims* (@ScouseTims) October 30, 2020

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BBC news report on ‘true gent’ Chris Smith

All at scottishathletics send our condolences to the family and friends of Chris Smith, the GB and NI international mountain runner, who died last week while on holiday in Scotland.

Our thoughts are with everyone close to Chris at this very sad time.

Smith starred in several GB and NI mountain running teams over the last decade, often alongside the likes of Andy Douglas and Robbie Simpson, and his performances contributed to four team medals at World and European Championships.

His highest placing at a World Champs came on Welsh soil in 2015 at Betsw-y-Coed, where he came home 10^th overall and third Briton as the Senior Men’s team landed bronze medals.

Chris was also part of the British Senior Men’s teams who won two silvers and bronze medals at European Mountain Running Championships.

Earlier in his career, he had lived in Aberdeenshire and represented Aberdeen AAC with distinction. Coached at the time by Ken and Joyce Hogg, Chris on a number of East District XC medals.

At Livingston in 2009-10, an individual silver medal helped Aberdeen to bronze team medals in the Senior Men’s race.