FAREWELL TO A HERO: Lachie Stewart, Scot who famously won 10,000m gold at Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, dies aged 81
The Alexandria-born athlete became a national hero when he outpaced Australian great Ron Clarke to triumph on home soil 55 years ago.
Stewart also represented Great Britain at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and was inducted into Scottish Athletics' hall of fame in 2018.
One of Scotland's finest distance runners, he worked as a dental technician during an era when even top athletes had to earn a living outwith the sport.
Scottish Athletics said on Sunday: 'Everyone at scottishathletics and within our community sends our thoughts at this sad time to Lachie's family and his many friends across the sport.'
Recalling his 10,000m Commonwealth Games triumph, which was one of the iconic moments in Scottish athletics history, Stewart told Mail Sport in 2018: 'I was experienced. I had won a few Scottish championships and had been at the Empire Games in Jamaica in 1966, albeit as a steeplechaser.
'But I set the fastest time in the world about five weeks before the Games in the Scottish championships at Meadowbank.
'I went into it thinking: 'If everything goes well I could get a medal'.
'Clarke was a god compared to everyone else. He would burn everybody off in races but when he could not do that he was vulnerable.
'I was never beaten in a sprint finish. My idea was: 'If anyone goes early, go with them'.
'They broke away with seven laps to go and I tucked myself in with them.
'There was a further break and me, Clarke and Dick Taylor (of England) opened a gap. I thought that I could win bronze then.
'But with two laps to go, I said: 'I could win this'. For some reason, I felt it was easy. I was so comfortable.
'With 100metres to go, I just felt I was running on air. There was an elation, I knew I was going to win.'
Asked about the moment he shook hands with the defeated Clarke afterwards, Stewart recalled: 'I told him: 'I'm sorry to be the one who had to beat you. You've always been an idol of mine'. He just nodded. He was a professional athlete in all but name. We were working-class guys.'
In 2020, at the age of 77, Stewart had the lower half of his leg amputaated after complications with diabetes.
He told BBC Scotland at the time: 'I had an ulcer between my second and third toe and it didn't seem to heal too well.
'It quickly went from that to the doctor saying I can either live with the pain, which was unbelievable, or we can amputate below the knee. I said to him right away to just take the bottom of the leg off because I just couldn't stand the pain.
'Sport makes you more determined. I don't have any hang-ups about losing the leg.'
Stewart's son, Glen, announced his father's death on social media over the weekend, writing: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lachie Stewart peacefully today at the RAH Paisley with family by his side after a short illness.
'Famously known for his victory over 10,000m at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
'He also represented Scotland at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica and the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand.
'He competed on numerous occasions for Great Britain including over 10,000m at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
'Funeral details to be confirmed.
'His hardest race has now been run and he will be greatly missed.'
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