Ida Margaret Tosh (née George; born 13 September 1937) is a Canadian athlete.[1] She competed in the women's javelin throw at the 1956 Summer Olympics.[2] She continued to compete in athletics throughout her life, setting multiple records in Masters' events.[3][4][5]

Margaret Tosh
Personal information
Full nameIda Margaret Tosh
Born (1937-09-13) 13 September 1937 (age 87)
Mervin, Saskatchewan, Canada
Sport
SportAthletics
EventJavelin throw

Biography

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Margaret George was born in Mervin, Saskatchewan in 1937.[1] Living in a log cabin on a rural farm, George had to chop wood and walk nearly three miles to school each day.[1][6] As a child, she played soccer and fastball.[1] While in eighth grade, she began to take up field athletics.[1] Four years later, she set a new school record for the javelin throw, breaking the old record by 18 feet.[1] That throw got her enrolled in an athletics programme with the Young Women's Christian Association.[1] This would then lead to George being selected for the Canadian Olympic Training Program.[1] At the Olympic trials, George set a new Canadian record in the javelin which stood until 1964.[7]

At the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, George competed in the women's javelin throw, finishing in 16th place.[8]

Following the Olympics, George became a teacher and taught in Harris, Saskatchewan for three years, and married her husband, George Tosh.[1][3] For the next twenty years, Tosh became a coach and also trained other coaches.[1] Tosh went on to set multiple World Masters' records in several events including javelin, discus, shot put and the hammer throw.[3] In October 2012, Tosh was named the Canadian Masters Athlete of the Month for September, after setting two world records and six national records.[9] The following year, Tosh was bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award.[10] In September 2018, Tosh set six national and three world records.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Margaret George". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Margaret George Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Tosh goes far in track and field". Press Reader. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  4. ^ "City considers options for new outdoor track facility". The Star Phoenix. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Margaret Tosh Breaks the World Record". Canadian Masters. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  6. ^ "100 Women: Age is just a number for these athletes". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Margaret (George) Tosh". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Javelin Throw, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Canadian Masters Athlete Of The Month – September". Canadian Masters. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award". Press Reader. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Masters Athlete Marg Tosh Looks Forward to Saskatoon's New Track and Field Facilities". Gordie Howes Sorts Complex. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
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