William Harold Nelson MBE (26 April 1923 – 1 July 2011) was a New Zealand long-distance runner who won two medals at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland.

Harold was inspired to take up athletics after seeing a film in 1938 about the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin that included New Zealander Jack Lovelock's winning the 1500 m gold medal.

Nelson served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during World War II.

Following his Air Force Service, Nelson became the New Zealand captain and flag bearer at the 1948 Olympic Games. It is reported that he supplemented his military diet with “malt and other items” to keep him in form for his running

Harold won 2 medals – Gold Medal in the 6 Miles & Silver medal in the 3 Mile - at the Empire Games Auckland 1950

A School Teacher, Harold moved to Nelson where he was active as an Athletics coach and organiser – he coached Rod Dixon – until his death in 2011.

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Article added: Friday 24 April 2020