Calgary Marathon founder, Olympic runner dies in car crash
Posted Aug 29, 2023 7:47 am.
A single vehicle crash in Calgary Sunday evening claimed the life of a 91-year-old man — identified by family as Douglas Kyle, a former Olympic runner and the creator of the Calgary Marathon.
Kyle was a ringleader of a group who ran in the first-ever Calgary Marathon, with a goal of putting Calgary on the map as a destination for runners.
“We’ve had people come up and volunteer from New York, from Africa, from South America — they’re not even running and they just want to be part of it,” said marathon interim executive director Jon Bird.
“We’re really, really proud of what Doug was a part of building,” he told CityNews. We’re really proud of the place he left to race in.”
Kyle stayed close to the marathon, returning to the event year after year.
Bird says the Calgary Marathon is now looking at ways to honour the late founder.
Police are still investigating the crash which led to his death.
They believe he was driving toward 84 Street SE around 9 p.m. Sunday before approaching a T intersection and veering off the road.
He was transported to hospital in non-life threatening condition but later died in hospital.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information is asked to contact Calgary police.
