Leslie Laing

Leslie Laing
Personal information
NationalityJamaican
Born19 February 1925
Linstead, Saint Catherine, Jamaica
Died7 February 2021 in (aged 95)
Clermont, Florida, USA
Height164 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event
Sprints
ClubPolytechnic Harriers
Medal record
Athletics
Representing Jamaica Jamaica
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1952 Helsinki4 × 400 m relay
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place1950 Guatemala City4 × 100 m relay
Bronze medal – third place1950 Guatemala City4 × 400 m relay

Leslie Alphonso "Les" Laing (19 February 1925 – 7 February 2021) was a Jamaican athlete and a winner of gold medal in 4 × 400 m relay at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Born in Linstead, Jamaica, Laing previously competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, where he finished sixth in 200 m and was eliminated in the heats of 100 m. He probably missed a medal when Arthur Wint pulled a muscle in the 4 × 400 m relay final.[1]

Laing finished second behind McDonald Bailey in both the 100 yards[2][3] and 220 yards events at the British 1949 AAA Championships.[4][5]

At the Helsinki Olympics, Laing was fifth in the 200 m and ran the second leg in the Jamaican 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 3:03.9.[6]

Laing was an All-American sprinter for the Fresno State Bulldogs track and field team, finishing 3rd in the 100 m and 200 m at the 1953 NCAA track and field championships.[7][8]

Laing married Fresno State classmate Carmen Phipps in August 1953.[9] In 2005 he was inducted into the Central American and Caribbean Confederation Hall of Fame.[10] He died twelve days short of his 96th birthday.

Competition record

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing Jamaica Jamaica
1948 Olympic Gamess London, United Kingdom 24th (h) 100 m 11.0
6th 200 m 22.02
2nd (h) 4 × 400 m relay 3:14.01
1950 Central American and Caribbean Games Guatemala City, Guatemala 2nd 4 × 100 m relay 41.6
3rd 4 × 400 m relay 3:19.0
1952 Olympic Games Helsinki, Finland 5th 200 m 21.45
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:04.04
1954 Central American and Caribbean Games Mexico City, Mexico 2nd 100 m 10.66
1st 200 m 21.66
1st 4 × 100 m relay 41.06
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:12.25
British Empire and Commonwealth Games Vancouver, Canada 25th (h) 100 y 10.4
15th (h) 220 y 22.9
6th 4 × 110 y relay NT
6th 4 × 440 y relay 3:19.0

1Did not finish in the final

References

  1. ↑ "History: Epic Run at Helsinki". Caribbean Olympics Coverage 2008. Gleaner Company. 2008. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  2. ↑ "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Alan with 7 others". Daily Record. 16 July 1949. Retrieved 14 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "Won AAA titles". Daily News (London). 18 July 1949. Retrieved 14 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Zatopek In 3rd Olympic Distance Win". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi, California. 28 July 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  7. ↑ "100 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "200 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "Les Laing, FSC Sprint Star, Will Wed Tomorrow". The Fresno Bee. 28 August 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "News - Noticias".
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