1. Vernon Patrick Boot was a New Zealand middle-distance runner who represented his country at the 1936 Summer Olympics and at the 1938 British Empire Games, winning gold and bronze medals at the latter.
13 Facts About Pat Boot
1. 2.
Pat Boot was educated at Ashburton High School and Timaru Boys' High School, and went on to study at Canterbury Agricultural College from 1934 to 1935, where he trained for a diploma in agriculture.
3.
In 1937, Pat Boot joined the Department of Agriculture as an assistant fields instructor.
4.
On 23 March 1940, Pat Boot married Lorna Hinepare Kessell at St Peter's Church, Wellington.
5.
Lorna Pat Boot died from meningitis on 15 September 1943 while her husband was serving overseas during World War II.
6.
Pat Boot competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin in the men's 800 metres, finishing last in his semi-final.
7.
Pat Boot withdrew from the fourth heat of the 1500 metres.
8.
At the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Pat Boot won the gold medal in the men's 880 yards with a tremendous sprint 70 yards from the end.
9.
Pat Boot's time of 1:51.2 was an Empire Games and Australian record.
10.
Pat Boot won five New Zealand national athletics titles: the 880 yards in 1936,1938,1939, and 1940; and the 1 mile in 1936.
11.
In World War II, Pat Boot trained as an officer at the Army Training School at Trentham.
12.
Pat Boot went overseas with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force not long after his marriage, and served in the Middle East and Italy.
13.
Pat Boot was an instructor in agriculture at Gisborne when he died on 15 January 1947 when under anaesthesia for dental treatment.