George Wala
| George Wala | |
|---|---|
| Yrjö Väätäjä | |
| Died | 1973 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | 1931–1934 |
George Wala was a Port Arthur track and field athlete who represented Canada at the British Empire Games and won multiple national titles in throwing events. George Wala was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 as an athlete.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
George Wala was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 29 September 2001 in the athlete category for track and field and pistol shooting, representing Port Arthur.[1]
Career
Beginning his athletic career with the Port Arthur Kiri Athletic Club under his Finnish name, Yrjö Väätäjä, he became a prominent figure in shot putt, discus, and javelin. In 1931, he competed in his first district meet and established new records for the 16-pound Shot put and Discus throw despite recovering from an arm injury. By 1932, he began competing as George Wala and participated in the Dominion Championships and Olympic trials in Hamilton. During this national debut, he secured a gold medal in javelin and a bronze medal in Shot put.[1]
In 1933, he prepared for the Dominion Championships held at McKellar Park in Fort William. Leading up to the event, he broke district records in javelin and Shot put; his discus mark of 128 feet, 4 inches remained a record for nearly four decades. At the national meet, he earned three gold medals in Discus throw, the 16-pound Shot put, and Javelin throw, along with a bronze in the Hammer throw. His performance earned him 16 points and the individual honors for the entire competition.[1]
He returned to Hamilton in 1934 for the Canadian Championships and British Empire Games trials. After winning the 16-pound Shot put and taking bronze in Javelin throw, he was selected for the Canadian team traveling to London, England. At the 1934 British Empire Games, he served as the team trainer while competing as an athlete. He finished in fourth place in both Shot put and Discus throw and sixth in Javelin throw, contributing more points to the Canadian team total than any other member.[1]
Following his international appearance, he relocated to Sudbury. He continued his Track and Field career, winning silver and bronze medals at the 1936 Canadian Championships. In his later years, he transitioned to competitive pistol shooting as a marksman before his death in 1973.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (1931–1934) rests on the following dated evidence. He competed for the Port Arthur Kiri Athletic Club and broke district records from 1931 until moving to Sudbury after the 1934 British Empire Games.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Set district records in the 16-pound shot putt and discus in 1931
- Won the national gold medal in javelin at the 1932 Dominion Championships
- Claimed three national titles in discus, shot putt, and javelin at the 1933 Dominion Championships
- Established a district discus record of 128 feet, 4 inches in 1933 that stood until at least 1972
- Won the 16-pound shot putt at the 1934 Canadian Championships
- Represented Canada at the 1934 British Empire Games in London, England
- Served as the team trainer for the Canadian squad at the 1934 British Empire Games
- Achieved the highest point total of any Canadian team member at the 1934 British Empire Games
- Won silver and bronze medals at the 1936 Canadian Championships[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "George Wala", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/031d8496-976d-4cbc-b27b-31a4dbb4dca8 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.