Winners: Gérard Côté, Athletics
Gérard Côté arriving at the finish line.
Date: 1940
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
1940 - Feature Story
Gérard Côté’s first sporting love was boxing but no one will ever know how well he might have done in the ring. Growing up in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Côté began running as part of his boxing training, but decided he preferred running to boxing. He never looked back, although success took time. Côté set his sights on winning the prestigious Boston Marathon, but in four attempts he could finish no better than seventh place. In 1940, he declared that year’s entry would be his fifth and final attempt. The diminutive 26-year-old runner finally had his day. Côté won the race in 2 hours, 28 minutes, 28 seconds, hacking 23 seconds off the course record. Months later he would complete an impressive marathon double, by winning the Yonkers Marathon, noting in interviews he incorporated snowshoe running as part of his training. Côté would go on to win three more Boston Marathons, two more Yonkers events and compete at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.
Career Highlights
- 1990 Made a member of the Order of Canada
- 1956 Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
- 1940, 1942, 1943, 1948 Boston Marathon victory
- 1940 Lou Marsh Memorial Award
- 1940 Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s male athlete of the year)
Medal awarded to Gérard Côté for wining first place in the 1940 Boston Marathon.
Date: 1940
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Medal awarded to Gérard Côté in 1942 when he won the 3 mile Canadian Snowshoe Championship.
Date: 1942
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Snowshoes worn by Gérard Côté.
Date: 1940’s
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Photograph of Gérard Côté wearing a singlet with the Canadian maple leaf on it, as well as the word “Army.”
Date: 1940’s
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Gérard Côté crossing the finish line at the end of a race.
Date: 1940’s
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Trophy won by Gérard Côté at the First Annual Western Hemisphere Marathon Run in Los Angeles.
Date: 1948
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Photograph of Gérard Côté training in the winter. His sweater reads “British Empire Games 1950 Canada.”
Date: 1950
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Sweater worn by Gérard Côté at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Gérard Côté wearing his Team Canada jacket.
Date: 1950's
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
