Gavin Thorley

{{Short description|New Zealand long-distance runner (1947–2022)}}

{{use New Zealand English|date=November 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Gavin Thorley

| full_name = Gavin Howard Thorley

| image =

| caption =

| country = New Zealand

| sport = Long-distance running

| event = {{hlist|5000 m|10,000 m}}

| club = Kapiti Running & Tri Club

| nationals = 10,000 m champion (1972)

| pb = 5000 m – 13:40.2
10,000 m – 28:44.4

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|06|11|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|07|03|1947|06|11|df=yes}}

| death_place = Wellington, New Zealand

| height = 1.83 m

| weight = 64 kg

}}

Gavin Howard Thorley (11 June 1947 – 3 July 2022){{Cite web |title=GAVIN THORLEY OBITUARY |url=https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/gavin-thorley-obituary?pid=202312998 |access-date=2022-07-05 |publisher=The New Zealand Herald}} was a New Zealand long-distance runner.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kapiti-news/news/munich-olympics-massacre-still-haunts-kiwi-athlete-45-years-later/HYPO37YJASFXXXLZGR5NDT3F3U/ |title=Munich Olympics massacre still haunts Kiwi athlete 45 years later |work=New Zealand Herald |access-date=24 January 2022}} He competed in the men's 5000 metres at the 1972 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/th/gavin-thorley-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418071009/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/th/gavin-thorley-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Gavin Thorley Olympic Results |access-date=8 November 2017}} Later in life he was very active as a volunteer with Special Olympics Kapiti.