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George McNeill is a speaker and sprinter who was the Usain Bolt of his day. A professional sprinter in the 70’s and 80’s, George McNeill was considered the fastest man in the world. However, unlike Bolt, being a professional runner in the 70’s and early 80’s, George was never allowed to run for his country or perform at the Olympics. The only title he ever had was “McNeill of Tranent”. These days George is known for his highly motivational keynote and after dinner speaking which are great fun.
In 1975 Chris Brasher writing about George in the Sunday Observer Recalled…
“The professionals came to London on Friday and made me angry. Angry because I saw the best British sprinter since McDonald Bailey and knew that this talent had been wasted. Angry because I saw one of those rare men who lift sport into the realms of art and knew that his talent is being wasted, angry because such a waste is surely a crime. McNeill, the greatest native-born sprinter I have ever seen in Britain has never been allowed to compete for his country or indeed against the best talent in Britain. He has been relegated to the small professional circuit in Scotland where, with the exception of the Powderhall Sprint, he has earned only enough to cover his expenses”.
George McNeill was born in a small mining town called Tranent, situated around ten miles East of Edinburgh. On leaving school he studied as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. During this time he played football for Hibernian, Morton and Stirling Albion. He gave up football to concentrate more professional athletics. He started in 1970 by winning the famous New Year ‘Powderhall Sprint‘ in its Centenary year. George set a World Record that day which he still holds to this day.
George’s talent as a sprinter continued to develop and in 1970, at the Press Charities Sports Meeting, held for the first time on the new ‘tartan track’ at Meadowbank, Edinburgh he set a professional World Record for 110 metres, clocking a time of 11 seconds flat. When equated to the more popular 100 metres, this was around the 10 seconds mark.
In 1981, in his thirties, George won the richest professional race in the world, ‘The Stawell Gift‘. This carried a first prize of 12,000 Australian dollars together with around 40,000 dollars from the bookmakers.
On retiring from top class competition, George McNeil became sprint and conditioning coach to the Hearts football club in Edinburgh. He still managed to compete in Veterans Athletics and has won British titles at 100 and 200 metres.
In 2003 George McNeill was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame
As a frequent guest at numerous dinners, George found he had a talent for motivational and after dinner speaking and has now become one of the most popular speakers on the circuit. He is a superb speaker with great comic timing. Both his motivational and after dinner talks contain a marvellous collection of hilarious anecdotes, covering a wide range of topics.
Prior to retiring to make time for his main sporting passion – golf, George helped run his family building business.
Watch the video (top right) to see George McNeil running professionally. George McNeil speaker, sprinter and top after dinner speaker.
