Joan Parnell
Biography
Joan Parnell (b. 1928) is a former national swimming competitor who first met her husband Bill (1928-2008) at the 1950 British Empire Games in New Zealand. At the time, Bill was already a well-known runner who had won a scholarship to train with Washington State University. During the games, Joan watched as Bill took home gold for the Mile Race. He was celebrated for this achievement and the two young athletes got married soon after. Bill went on to become a high school gym teacher and coach for football, basketball, track, and cross-country at Delbrook Senior Secondary. He was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1977. Joan kept a scrapbook of photos and clippings detailing her husband’s career.
Forgotten Runner
“When the 1954 games were on, we’d been married for three years. Bill was still running, and I was still competing but not to the same degree. I had a three week old baby when the games started. Bill, I think he was the track team captain. I was with a little baby and he was living out at UBC to help get these games going. So that was a tough time for us.
I would say yes, running was his passion. He would run to school and sometimes he would run over in Stanley Park. I think he’s best known for his Mile Run win in 1950, but so many people don’t remember that because four years later was the Miracle Mile. He has been referred to as the Forgotten Runner because after the Miracle Mile, the Mile Run win was nothing. He was in the heats for that but didn’t make it—he was just too busy. He was a new dad and in his first year of teaching. I don’t know how he managed, but I had to manage too. I will always remember when he won the Mile Run. I was there! It was quite important that year because Canada didn’t come home with many metals, period.”
