Malcolm Spence (South African athlete)

Malcolm Spence
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  South Africa
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1960 Rome 400 metres
British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 1958 Cardiff 440 yards
Gold medal – first place 1958 Cardiff 4x440 yards relay

Malcolm Clive Spence (4 September 1937 in Johannesburg – 30 December 2010) was a South African athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. All sixteen of Malcolm Spence's great, great grandparents emigrated to South Africa from Kent, England.

He ran for South Africa in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia, finishing sixth in the 400 meters. In the 1958 Commonwealth Games he won silver in the individual and gold in the relay.[1] He also represented his country in the 400 metres in the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome, Italy, where he won the bronze medal. Curiously, there were two people named Malcolm Spence running the 400 meters distance at the 1960 Olympics, both getting a bronze medal. Malcolm Spence from Jamaica was unable to get out of the semi-final round in the Open race. But the Jamaican, who shortened his name to Mal Spence, led off his British West Indian relay team which finished a second ahead of the South African relay team anchored by this Malcolm Spence.

References

  1. ^ Chris Barron (30 January 2011). "Obituary: Malcolm Spence: Humble SA track star". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012.