Ray Smedley

{{short description|British middle-distance runner}} {{use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Use British English|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Ray Smedley | image = Ray Smedley.jpg | caption = Smedley competing in the 1974 European Athletics Championships | nationality = British (English) | sport = Athletics | event = Middle/long-distance | club = Birchfield Harriers | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|9|3|df=yes}} | birth_place = Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England | death_date = | death_place = | height =181 cm | weight =70 kg | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's athletics}} {{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}} {{MedalCompetition|European Indoor Championships}} {{MedalBronze|1976 Munich|3000 m}} }}

'''Raymond John Smedley''' (born 3 September 1951) is a retired British middle to long-distance runner who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sm/ray-smedley-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418041749/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sm/ray-smedley-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Ray Smedley Olympic Results |accessdate=29 October 2017}}</ref>

== Biography == Smedley finished second behind Peter Stewart in the 1500 metres event at the 1972 AAA Championships.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001816/19720716/031/0031 |title=AAA Championships full results |work=Birmingham Weekly Mercury |date=16 July 1972 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{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=27 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> Shortly afterwards Smedley represented Great Britain and competed in the men's 1500 metres at the 1972 Olympics Games in Munich.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69486 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref>

After stepping up in distance he represented England in the marathon event, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/brisbane-1982/athletes|title=1982 Athletes|website=Team England}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/39237|title=Athletes and results|website=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=2 October 2019|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002162505/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/39237|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{sports links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smedley, Ray}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics Category:British men middle-distance runners Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for England Category:Sportspeople from Sutton Coldfield Category:English men middle-distance runners Category:Competitors at the 1975 Summer Universiade Category:Competitors at the 1977 Summer Universiade