George Gray (shot putter)

Gray was raised in Coldwater, Ontario, Canada and first competed in the shot put in 1885. Gray won the prestigious British AAA Championships shot put event at the 1888 AAA Championships. On 24 May 1889 he is recorded as being recognized as the first Canadian athlete to set a world best in an athletics event with a shot put distance of 45' 2".(Note: 45' 1 3/4". He was, remarkably, to remain unbeaten throughout his career and held the world's best mark until early the next century (to 1902; == World Best Marks ==

There were no official world records until the formation of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 1912. However, world best marks before that are universally recognized. Gary recorded 8 such world best marks: • at New York on 22 September 1888. • at Barrie on 24 May 1889. • at New York on 20 September 1890. • at Saint Catherine's on 10 August 1891. • at New York on 12 September 1891. • at New York on 19 September 1891. • at Chicago on 18 September 1893. • at Ottawa on 1 August 1898. == References ==