John Nuttall

John Barry Nuttall (11 January 1967 – 9 November 2023) was a British male long-distance runner who competed in track and cross country running. He competed for Great Britain at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also represented his country twice at the World Championships in Athletics (1993, 1995) and five times at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He was a silver medallist at the 1994 IAAF World Cup and a bronze medallist at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

Career Born in Preston, Lancashire, on 11 January 1967, Nuttall proved his ability for running as a teenager: he won the 3000 m at the English Schools' Athletics Championships in a championship record and placed third that same year at the 1985 European Athletics Junior Championships. Further international outings followed, with appearances at the 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the 1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He came close to a medal at the 1989 Summer Universiade, taking fourth place in the 5000 m.

Nuttall won a scholarship to study at Iowa State University and competed collegiately for the Iowa State Cyclones track and field and cross country teams. He suffered injuries in his first couple of years there but was successful later on. His greatest honour while there was a win at the 1989 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in which he and teammate Jonah Koech led a one-two for the Cyclones to win the NCAA team title. He won eight Big Eight Conference titles. He was also the 3000 m runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 1991. He was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2001.

Nuttall's first senior international appearance came at the 1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he helped the English team to sixth. After a 3000 m win at the UK Athletics Championships in 1993, his first senior national title, His most successful year came in 1994. He was Britain's top performer at the 1994 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 32nd place then claimed fifth place in the 5000 m at the 1994 European Athletics Championships. He took his first major medals over the 5000 m, being the silver medallist at the 1994 IAAF World Cup (behind Brahim Lahlafi) and a bronze medallist at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. His last high-profile international medal was at the 1995 European Cup, where was runner-up for Britain in the 5000 m behind Italy's Gennaro Di Napoli.

Nuttal made his second and final outing at the World Championships in 1995, reaching the 5000 m final and coming 14th. That year he had double national success with wins at the English Cross Country Championships and the AAA Championships.

From his first marriage he had two children, Hannah Nuttall and Luke Nuttall. Hannah and Luke also became runners.

Nuttall was coached by George Gandy and after retirement became a successful running coach.

Nuttall died suddenly from a heart attack in Doha, Qatar, on 9 November 2023. He was 56.

Personal bests Mile run: 3:58.83 min (1991) 3000 metres: 7:36.40 min (1996) AAA Championships 5000 m: 1996 English Cross Country Championships Long course: 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship Long course: 1989