Lawson Robertson

Lawson N. Robertson (September 24, 1883 – January 22, 1951) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He competed as a member of the Irish American Athletic Club, part of the U.S. Olympic Team, at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, and at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.

In 1904 he won the bronze medal in the standing high jump competition. In the 100 metres event he finished sixth. He also participated in the 60 metres competition where he was eliminated in the first round.

Two years later at the Intercalated Games he won the silver medal in the standing high jump event and the bronze medal in the standing long jump competition. In the 100 metres event he finished fifth and in the pentathlon contest he finished sixth. He also participated in the 400 metres competition but did not start in the repechage.

In the 100 metres competition at the 1908 Olympics, Robertson won his first round heat with a time of 11.4 seconds to advance to the semifinals. There, he lost a close race to countryman Nathaniel Cartmell, both clocking at 11.2 seconds and Cartmell winning by about a foot. The loss to Cartmell eliminated Robertson from advancing to the final.

On the same day as his semifinal loss in the 100 meters, Robertson was eliminated in the preliminary heats of the 200 metres with a second place finish in his heat. His time was 23.0 seconds, 0.2 slower than the winner's. He also participated again in the standing high jump competition but his result is unknown.

According to his 1910 trading card, Lawson "will go down in athletic history as one of the greatest sprinters of the cinder path."

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Persondata
NAME=Robertson, Lawson
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American athlete
DATE OF BIRTH=24 September 1883
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=22 January 1951
PLACE OF DEATH=