Geoff Smith (runner)

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Geoff Smith

| image = 150px

| caption = Smith after the 1984 Boston Marathon

| nationality = British (English)

| sport = Athletics

| event = long-distance

| club = Liverpool Harriers

| birth_date = 24 October 1953

| birth_place = Liverpool, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height =173 cm

| weight =61 kg

}}

Geoffrey Smith (born 24 October 1953) is a British former long-distance runner who won the Boston Marathon in both 1984 and 1985 and competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics and the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Smith was born in LiverpoolBarlow, Eleanor (6 April 2013). [https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/former-liverpool-firefighter-geoff-smith-3320731 Former Liverpool firefighter Geoff Smith among thousands caught up in Boston terror attacks]. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2018-03-06. and was a member of the Liverpool Harriers.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68775 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=13 June 2025}}

At the 1980 Olympics Games in Moscow, he represented Great Britain in the 10,000 metres. He finished second behind Barry Smith in the 10,000 metres event at the 1981 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=12 June 2025}}

He ran a sub-four-minute mile in 1982, recording 3:55 minutes in Wales. In 1982 he won the world class Bermuda 10K on a very hilly course in a record time of 28:14, although many world class runners have attempted this race over the years since, none have been any closer than 54 seconds behind this record. He finished second behind Charlie Spedding at the 1983 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=12 June 2025}}

Smith's best time in the marathon was 2:09:08, when he finished second to Rod Dixon in the New York City Marathon in 1983, his first attempt at the marathon distance. Smith only lost by nine seconds. He won the 1984 Boston Marathon by over four minutes. He was the last person to win the Boston Marathon before the race organizers began giving out prize money to the winners.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14365283&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6 |title=The Taunton Gazette - News and Sports - 04/18/2005 - Smith looks back on two Boston Marathon victories |access-date=20 October 2006 |archive-date=3 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050503184912/http://www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14365283&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6 |url-status=dead }}

Smith worked as a firefighter for ten years in the United Kingdom, joining the profession straight out of high school. He later went back to study, enrolling at Providence College in Rhode Island at the age of 26 in 1980. He remained in the United States and began working as a middle school teacher and lives in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts as of 2004.[http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/6/6_1/20-years-later-an-intervi.shtml Cool Running :: 20 Years Later: An Interview with Two-Time Boston Marathon Winner Geoff Smith] He ceased running the Boston Marathon after 1990 and stopped running completely in the early 1990s, having suffered hip problems since birth. He has had both hips replaced and has started running again in June 2013. He coaches local runners South of Boston.

Marathons

1983

|New York City Marathon

|New York, United States

| 2nd

|2:09:08

rowspan=2|1984

|Boston Marathon

|Boston, United States

| 1st

|2:10:34

Chicago Marathon

|Chicago, United States

|5th

|2:10:08

1985

|Boston Marathon

|Boston, United States

| 1st

|2:14:05

1987

|Boston Marathon

|Boston, United States

| 3rd

|2:12:42

1990

|Boston Marathon

|Boston, United States

| 7th

|2:13:38

International competitions

{{AchievementTable\|Event=yes}}
colspan="6"\|Representing {{GBR2}}
1980 \|Olympic Games \|Moscow, Soviet Union \| 26th (q) \|10,000 m \|30:00.01
1984 \|Olympic Games \|Los Angeles, United States \| — \|Marathon \|DNF
1987 \|World Championships \|Rome, Italy \|— \|Marathon \|DNF

colspan="6"|Representing {{GBR2}}

1980

|Olympic Games

|Moscow, Soviet Union

| 26th (q)

|10,000 m

|30:00.01

1984

|Olympic Games

|Los Angeles, United States

| —

|Marathon