guardian: Former Guardian journalist Emil Voigt, a wiry vegetarian from Manchester, stunned his rivals at the London Games of 1908 by storming to victory in the five mile race and becoming the first – and only – Briton to win a long-distance individual gold medal. Photograph: Emil Voigt Collection Voigt, who reported from Europe for the Guardian between 1905 and 1906 before returning to Manchester to write on sport, was on the verge of retiring from competitive athletics in 1908 when he made a last-ditch decision to take part just six weeks before the opening ceremony. Read more about his incredible story here.

guardian:

Former Guardian journalist Emil Voigt, a wiry vegetarian from Manchester, stunned his rivals at the London Games of 1908 by storming to victory in the five mile race and becoming the first – and only – Briton to win a long-distance individual gold medal. Photograph: Emil Voigt Collection

Voigt, who reported from Europe for the Guardian between 1905 and 1906 before returning to Manchester to write on sport, was on the verge of retiring from competitive athletics in 1908 when he made a last-ditch decision to take part just six weeks before the opening ceremony. Read more about his incredible story here.

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