Paul Nash (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Paul Nash is a South Africa
n sprinter
who tied the 100-metre world record
four times in 1968 with a time of 10.0 seconds. He attended Michaelhouse
school in the province of KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa.
His most celebrated race in South Africa occurred on 2 April 1968 when at the Krugersdorp stadium he equalled what was then the world record of 10.00. He was ranked third in the world over 100-metre behind Jim Hines
of the United States and Lennox Miller
of Jamaica by Track and Field News in 1968. Hines won the Olympic title at high altitude in Mexico City
in 1968 in a world record electronic time of 9.95 with Miller second.
In 1967 Nash had competed against Hines in Los Angeles when he finished third in a hand-timed 10.4 with Hines in 10.2.
The next year Nash, aged 21, was in fine form and during the South African athletics season in the early months of 1968 media attention focussed intensively on Nash's prospects of breaking the world handtimed record of 10.0. A specially constituted athletics meeting was held on 2 April 1968 at the Krugersdorp stadium located 20 km to the west of Johannesburg (subsequently renamed the Bob van Reenan stadium and now a training ground for the Kaizer chiefs football club) on the west the Johannesburg to allow Nash another opportunity to challenge the record.
Conditions were not ideal for sprinting on the cinder track then laid at the stadium as it had rained in the afternoon. Nash's record attempt nevetheless generated great excitement and approximately 16 000 people crowded into the stadium to watch Nash run. The stadium was so crowded that the announcer was compelled to ask spectactors to move their feet from the outer perimeter of the track.
Nash ran 10.0 to equal the record and in July 1968 he recorded an unprecedented sprint double of 10.0 for the 100 metres and 20.1 in the 200 metres within an hour in Zurich. Shortly he suffered a complete breakdown of his health and ability to train and compete as a result of what has subsequently been diagnosed as reactive arthritis, a condition which attacks young people under stress impairing their immune systems.
Despite being offered numerous athletics scholarships to various United States Colleges, the strongly indepdendent-minded Nash chose instead to enrol for a Batchelor of Commerce degree at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg
. After graduating he channelled the focus that enabled him to equal the world record into the family business and has had a successful and varied career in commerce. He is now chairman of Sable Holding Pty Limited, a property investment and management company, and has also amongst other things operated an aviation company, Astro Helicopters and a road-freight business.
Sportswriter, coach and former Springbok athlete, Jan Barnard, and Nash himself interviewed in early 2011, believe that had he been given the opportunity, but for the sports boycott of South Africa because of its apartheid policies, that he would have beaten Jim Hines in the Olympic final in Mexico City in 1968.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
who tied the 100-metre world record
World record progression 100 metres men
The first record in the 100 metres for men was recognised by the International Amateur Athletics Federation, now known as the International Association of Athletics Federations, in 1912...
four times in 1968 with a time of 10.0 seconds. He attended Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse is a full boarding senior school for boys founded in 1896. It is located in the Balgowan valley in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :...
school in the province of KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa.
His most celebrated race in South Africa occurred on 2 April 1968 when at the Krugersdorp stadium he equalled what was then the world record of 10.00. He was ranked third in the world over 100-metre behind Jim Hines
Jim Hines
James "Jim" Ray Hines is a former American track and field athlete, who held the 100 m world record for 15 years. He was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.-Track career:...
of the United States and Lennox Miller
Lennox Miller
Lennox V. Miller was a champion runner and father of Inger Miller....
of Jamaica by Track and Field News in 1968. Hines won the Olympic title at high altitude in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1968 in a world record electronic time of 9.95 with Miller second.
In 1967 Nash had competed against Hines in Los Angeles when he finished third in a hand-timed 10.4 with Hines in 10.2.
The next year Nash, aged 21, was in fine form and during the South African athletics season in the early months of 1968 media attention focussed intensively on Nash's prospects of breaking the world handtimed record of 10.0. A specially constituted athletics meeting was held on 2 April 1968 at the Krugersdorp stadium located 20 km to the west of Johannesburg (subsequently renamed the Bob van Reenan stadium and now a training ground for the Kaizer chiefs football club) on the west the Johannesburg to allow Nash another opportunity to challenge the record.
Conditions were not ideal for sprinting on the cinder track then laid at the stadium as it had rained in the afternoon. Nash's record attempt nevetheless generated great excitement and approximately 16 000 people crowded into the stadium to watch Nash run. The stadium was so crowded that the announcer was compelled to ask spectactors to move their feet from the outer perimeter of the track.
Nash ran 10.0 to equal the record and in July 1968 he recorded an unprecedented sprint double of 10.0 for the 100 metres and 20.1 in the 200 metres within an hour in Zurich. Shortly he suffered a complete breakdown of his health and ability to train and compete as a result of what has subsequently been diagnosed as reactive arthritis, a condition which attacks young people under stress impairing their immune systems.
Despite being offered numerous athletics scholarships to various United States Colleges, the strongly indepdendent-minded Nash chose instead to enrol for a Batchelor of Commerce degree at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. After graduating he channelled the focus that enabled him to equal the world record into the family business and has had a successful and varied career in commerce. He is now chairman of Sable Holding Pty Limited, a property investment and management company, and has also amongst other things operated an aviation company, Astro Helicopters and a road-freight business.
Sportswriter, coach and former Springbok athlete, Jan Barnard, and Nash himself interviewed in early 2011, believe that had he been given the opportunity, but for the sports boycott of South Africa because of its apartheid policies, that he would have beaten Jim Hines in the Olympic final in Mexico City in 1968.