{{short description|British long-distance runner}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Alec Olney | image = | caption = | nationality = British (English) | sport = Athletics | event = long-distance | club = Thames Valley Harriers | birth_date = 4 January 1922 | birth_place = Hampstead, England | death_date = 25 April 2017 (aged 95) | death_place = Harrow, England | height = | weight = }}
'''Henry Alexander Olney''' also known as '''Alec Olney''' (4 January 1922 – 25 April 2017) was a British long-distance runner who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.<ref name="sref">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ol/alec-olney-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418035832/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ol/alec-olney-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |accessdate=6 July 2012}}</ref>
== Biography == Born Henry Alexander Olney in Hampstead, he went by the name Alec and finished fifth in the English National Cross Country Championships in early 1947.<ref name=oly>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68775 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> Olney then finished second behind Jef Lataster in the 3 miles event at the 1947 AAA Championships<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19470719/076/0004 |title=Great run follows air-taxi dash |work=Daily News (London) |date=19 July 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19470721/062/0004 |title=Army man steals limelight and 2 titles |work=Daily News (London) |date=21 July 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> and made his nternational debut against France.<ref name=oly/>
Olney was second again at the 1948 AAA Championships behind Wim Slijkhuis but by virtue of being the highest placed British athlete was considered the British 3 miles champion.<ref name=Nuts>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> Shortly after his AAA success he represented the Great Britain team at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.<ref name=oly/>
In 1949, he won the Southern Counties Cross Country title and after finishing third at the 1949 AAA Championships<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> Olney married Beryl Thurley on 3 September 1949 in Willesden and the following year was on the podium again at the 1950 AAA Championships, runner-up behind Lucien Theys.<ref name=Nuts/>
Olney competed at the 1950 European Athletics Championships before taking up road racing.<ref name=oly/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{sports links}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olney, Alec}} Category:1922 births Category:2017 deaths Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics Category:People from Hampstead Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Camden Category:English men long-distance runners Category:British men long-distance runners Category:Members of Thames Valley Harriers Category:20th-century English sportsmen