Gary Oakes

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Gary Oakes

| nationality = British (English)

| sport = Athletics

| event = hurdles

| club = Haringey AC

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|21 September 1958}}

| birth_place = Kentish Town, London, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 177 cm

| weight = 69 kg

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country | {{GBR2}} }}

}}

Gary James Oakes (born 21 September 1958) is a male British retired athlete who mainly competed in the men's 400 metre hurdles. He competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69356 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=8 June 2025}}

Biography

Oakes was a member of the Haringey Athletic Club. He finished third behind Alan Pascoe in the 400 metres hurdles event at the 1978 AAA Championships.{{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=8 June 2025}} Shortly afterwards he represented England in the 400 metres hurdles event, at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/edmonton-1978/athletes|title=1978 Athletes|website=Team England}}

Oakes finished third again at the 1979 AAA Championships but by virtue of being the highest placed British athlete was considered the British 400 metres hurdles champion.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=8 June 2025}} At the 1980 Olympics Games in Moscow, he represented Great Britain, where he won the bronze medal in the 400 metre hurdles.

Oakes won the AAA title outright at the 1981 AAA Championships{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19810809/038/0038 |title=Results |work=Sunday Sun (Newcastle) |date=9 August 1981 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=13 June 2025}} and the following year represented England, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/brisbane-1982/athletes|title=1982 Athletes|website=Team England}} A third Commonwealth Games appearance followed when he represented England, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/edinburgh-1986/athletes|title=1986 Athletes|website=Team England}}{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/37603|title=Athletes and results|website=Commonwealth Games Federation}}