Paul Poce
Year of Birth: 1924
Category: Builder
Year of Induction: 2009

Paul started running after participating in boxing during his teens, believing that running was a better sport. His athletic career began under Lloyd Percival, who was his coach with the Toronto Red Devils. Born in Toronto (Ontario, Canada), Paul helped found the Toronto Olympic Club (TOC) in 1954 after running and coaching with clubs including the West End YMCA and the Toronto Red Devils TC.

Paul held the role of head athletics coach for Canada at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona (Spain) and distance coach for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich (Germany) and the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal (Québec, Canada) – and would have held the role in 1980, but for the boycott.

Paul was Athletics head coach for the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas (Venezuela), after coaching the distance runners at the Games of 1979 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and 1967 (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). Paul was Athletics head coach in 1966 for the Commonwealth Games in Kingston (Jamaica); distance coach for the Games in 1970 (Edinburgh, Scotland), 1974 (Christchurch, New Zealand), 1978 (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), and 1990 (Auckland, New Zealand); observer coach for the Games in 1986 (Edinburgh, Scotland); and assistant head coach for the Games in 1994 (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada).

Paul has coached 13 Olympians and over 30 athletes including John Craig, Paul Craig, and Jerome Drayton, who each represented Canada internationally. He was the national distance coach from 1974 to 1976 and has coached/managed numerous national teams including off-road, track, and cross-country. Paul was inducted into the Canadian Road Runners Hall of Fame in 1991.

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