Michael Wheeler (athlete)

Michael Keith Valentine Wheeler (14 February 1935–15 January 2020)^[1] was a British athlete who competed the 1956 Summer Olympics.^[2]

Mike Wheeler

Personal information
Nationality	British (English)
Born	14 February 1935 Watford, England
Died	15 January 2020 (aged 84) Poole, England
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	400m
Club	London Athletic Club Bournemouth AC
Medal record Representing  Great Britain Men's Athletics 1956 Melbourne 4x400 metre relay

Biography

Wheeler was educated at Taunton School, where he played arugby and competed in athletics. He won the 1952 England schools 440 yards title at the White City Stadium. The following year he won the 100 yards and 440 yards titles at the English Schools championships.^[3]

He joined London Athletic Club in 1954 before moving to Bournemouth AC in 1955. Wheeler finished second behind Peter Fryer in the 440 yards event at the 1955 AAA Championships.^[4][5] Wheeler became the British 440 yards champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1956 AAA Championships.^[6][7]

Later that year he represented Great Britain at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, where he won the bronze medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay with his teammates Peter Higgins, John Salisbury, and Derek Johnson.^[3]

In 1956, Wheeler set an 100 yards English record, recording 9.8 seconds when winning the Hampshire 100 yards title.^[3] He had eleven international appearances from 1955 to 1956 before retiring from athletics in 1966.^{[citation needed]}