Alec Burns

For the Trinidad and Tobago cricketer, see Alec Burns (cricketer).

James Alexander Burns (5 November 1907 – 22 May 2003) was an English track and field athlete who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.^[1]

Alec Burns

Personal information
Nationality	British (English)
Born	5 November 1907 Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Died	22 May 2003 (aged 95) Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	66 kg (146 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	middle-distance
Club	Elswick Harriers
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  England British Empire Games 1934 London 3 miles

Biography

Burns was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. He became the national 4 miles champion after winning the British AAA Championships at the 1931 AAA Championships^[2][3][4] In 1932 at the Olympic Games, he finished seventh in the Olympic 5000 metres event.^[1]

Burns represented England at the 1934 British Empire Games, winning a bronze medal in the 3 miles contest.^[5]

Burns finished second behind Józef Noji in the 6 miles event and second behind William Eaton in the 10 miles event at the 1936 AAA Championships.^[6][7] One month later he was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, where he finished fifth in the 10,000 metres competition.^[1]

Burns once again finished runner-up at the 1937 AAA Championships in both the 6 miles and 10 miles races.^[8][9]

His grandson was Richard Burns, the 2001 World Rally Champion.