Latest news with #LachieStewart
Scotsman
04-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
The extraordinary story of how Lachie Stewart became a Scottish national hero
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For all the majestic and, at times, inglorious moments that defined Scottish sport throughout the 20th century, the crowning achievement of distance runner Lachie Stewart is too often forgotten. He was, and remains, one of Scotland's greatest ever athletes, and the sad occasion of his death last week at the age of 81 is a chance to revisit the moment he became a national hero after claiming gold in the 10,000 metres at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. No one, except perhaps Lachie himself, considered such a feat realistic. He was a gifted runner, for sure, but found himself up against a talented field which included Dick Taylor, the British record holder, and Kenya's Naftali Temu, the reigning Commonwealth champion. Above them all towered Ron Clarke, the revered Australian who had set no less than 17 world records during a gilded career. Having taken silver at three previous iterations of the Games, Clarke was widely expected to go one better in Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lachie's talents had been recognised at numerous Scottish meets and Amateur Athletics Championships, but in truth, he was viewed as an outsider, and even in an age when athletics remained a strictly amateur pursuit, his training regime was unorthodox. Although he joined his local running club in Alexandria as a teenager, and progressed to the Shettleston Harriers, he was a self-taught runner who seldom took to a track, preferring to mark out 800 yard and 400 yard repeats in a local park. Lachie Stewart with his gold medal won in the Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres final at Meadowbank stadium Edinburgh in July 1970. Picture: The Scotsman | TSPL Out of sorts on big day His great virtue, however, was hard graft. Every weekday, the young Scot would run to and from his home in Rutherglen and his workplace at Glasgow Dental Hospital. If ten miles was insufficient, he would give up his lunch break to pound the length of Sauchiehall Street and its surrounding thoroughfares. On occasion, he would even accept the challenge laid down by a bus driver, racing them all the way from Anderston to Shawlands. Come a dreich July day in the shiny new Meadowbank Stadium, the 27-year-old faced an even greater challenge. Lachie had felt a little out of sorts on the day of the biggest race of his sporting life, and had just a few tea biscuits for breakfast. The discomfort was the result of a peptic ulcer – not that he or the thousands of home supporters cheering knew it. 'An idol of mine' With just 200 metres to go, he was in third place, tucked in behind Taylor and Clarke. But buoyed by the crowd's cheers, he kicked on, passing a tiring Taylor and overtaking a grimacing Clarke on the home straight to secure Scotland's first flat race Games gold. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The dogged, wily performance had already secured Lachie's place in Scottish sporting history, but what happened next revealed to the world the true character of a champion, as he walked over to Clarke, shook his hand, and told him: 'I'm sorry to be the one who had to beat you. You've always been an idol of mine.'
STV News
03-06-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lachie Stewart dies aged 81
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympic athlete Lachie Stewart has died at the age of 81. Stewart won 10,000 metres gold for Scotland at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in a huge moment for Scottish sport. He crossed the line ahead of Australian Ron Clarke to win the gold medal, with England's Dick Taylor taking bronze. Stewart represented Scotland at three Commonwealth Games and also ran for Great Britain at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Born in Alexandria in 1943, Stewart worked as a dental mechanic for 44 years and even after his retirement from the track, Scottish Athletics said he was a regular attendee at local events. 'One of the icons of our sport has passed away in hospital in Paisley after a short illness,' a statement from the governing body said. 'Everyone at Scottish Athletics and within our community sends our thoughts at this sad time to Lachie's family and his many friends across the sport'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
FAREWELL TO A HERO: Lachie Stewart, Scot who famously won 10,000m gold at Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, dies aged 81
Lachie Stewart, the Scot who famously won 10,000m gold at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970, has died 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.'
Scottish Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘One of the all-time iconic moments' – Tributes pour in as Scottish athletics legend dies
His career highlight came at a famous home Commonwealth Games RIP LACHIE 'One of the all-time iconic moments' – Tributes pour in as Scottish athletics legend dies SCOTTISH athletics legend Lachie Stewart has sadly passed away at the age of 81. The running great's career highlight came when he won the 10,000m at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. 3 Lachie Stewart winning gold at the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games Credit: Getty 3 It was a massive moment for Scottish sport on home soil Credit: Getty 3 And tributes have come in from near and far after his sad death Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Scottish Athletics described it as 'one of the all-time iconic moments for athletics in Scotland'. Stewart also competed at two other Commonwealth Games in Jamaica and New Zealand and also ran for Team GB at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The Alexandria athlete – whose full name was Joseph Laughlin Stewart – stayed in the sport after having up his spikes, and was often seen presenting medals at events. He was voted into the Scottish Athletics' Hall of Fame in 2018 and is also in the wider Scottish Sports equivalent. Lachlan's son, Glen, shared the news of his dad's sad passing in hospital in Paisley after a short illness, adding that 'his hardest race has now been run and he will be greatly missed'. And the announcement brought tributes from far and wide. Scottish Athletics said: 'Everyone at Scottish athletics and within our community sends our thoughts at this sad time to Lachie's family and his many friends across the sport.' One admirer harked back to that famous day in 1970 as they wrote: 'I still remember that great race when he won the gold medal at the Commonwealth games.' The Scottish Running podcast said: 'They don't make 'em like that anymore. Legend & gentleman.' And Tricia Marwick, the former Presiding Officer at the Scottish Parliament, paid her own tribute. She wrote: 'Sad news. 'Next Usain Bolt' Gout Gout, 17, runs blistering sub-10sec 100m twice in same day 'I watched Lachie Stewart win the Commonwealth Gold medal on TV in 1970 in Edinburgh. "I was so proud. Thanks for such wonderful memories.' And athletics photographer Bobby Gavin said: 'Never meet your heroes? "After watching the 1970 Commonwealth Games this awestruck wee boy approached the Gold Medalist at Shotts Highland Games. 'He was polite and friendly, and in 2021 could still tell me the route & time. RIP Lachie, you were a catalyst for a love of athletics.' One athletics fan commented: 'Was in the Meadowbank Stadium with my Dad when Lachie Stewart won the gold medal at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1970. 'A fantastic Scottish sporting memory. RIP Lachie and thank you.' Another well-wisher added: 'Sorry to hear of the passing of the great Lachie Stewart, Commonwealth gold winner 10,000m at Edinburgh 1970. 'Had the pleasure of meeting him when I worked in Maritime Heritage. 'He was a superb builder of model ships (superb doesn't do them justice). An absolute gentleman.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
01-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Scottish distance runner Stewart dies aged 81
Scottish distance runner Lachie Stewart has died aged won 10,000m gold for Scotland at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and represented Great Britain at the 1972 Munich Joseph Laughlin Stewart in Alexandria in 1943, he worked as a dental was inducted to Scottish Athletics' hall of fame in 2018 and the organisation said: "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."In 2020, at age 77, he had the lower half of his leg amputated after complications with diabetes."I had an ulcer between my second and third toe and it didn't seem to heal too well," he told BBC Scotland at the time."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."
