Mountain, born in
Camberwell, London, was educated at
Westminster City School,
Sutton Valence School, and
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a first in both parts of the natural sciences
Tripos. Mountain finished third behind
Bevil Rudd in the 880 yards event at the
1920 AAA Championships. The following month at the
1920 Summer Olympics, held in Antwerp, Belgium, he represented Great Britain in the 800 metres event and finished fourth, setting a British junior record. and successfully defended his title the following year at the
1922 AAA Championships. He finished runner-up to
Cecil Griffiths in the 880 yards in 1923. He represented Great Britain for a second time at the
1924 Summer Olympics. After the 1924 Olympics, Mountain settled in South Africa and later became a specialist in South African geological formations and a professor at
Rhodes University. He discovered several minerals, and one of them,
mountainite, bears his name. == References ==