The two-time Olympian and longtime TV commentator for events such as the Summer and Winter Olympics, Superstars and World’s Strongest Man was 74.
As an athlete, Paul Dickenson competed in the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games in the 73.20m hammer. in 2014.
“Dikko”, as he was known to many, was perhaps best known for his television work and will be sorely missed after he died on Tuesday just days before his 75th birthday.
He specialized in covering field events for the BBC, but was versatile enough to commentate on other subjects in addition to competitions such as the World’s Strongest Man, Superstars and the Winter Olympics was a well-known commentator in the field of athletics.
As a young athlete, Dickenson excelled Athletics Weekly In 1965, when he featured in the Spotlight on Youth column and was described as “the most exciting youth hammer thrower Britain has ever had”.
Paul Dickenson (Mark Shearman)
He was introduced to the hammer by his PE teacher at Tynemouth Grammar School, Carl Johnson, who later became his long-term coach.
After winning five consecutive English schools titles in the mid-1960s, he went on to break the UK record in 1976 with a performance which, almost half a century later, still ranks 21st in the UK all-time list.
Paul Dickenson (Mark Shearman)
He went on to compete in the 1976 and 1980 Olympics and the 1978 and 1982 Commonwealth Games, finishing outside the medals.
A lifelong athlete, he was still competing well into his 60s, and hammer throwers he has coached include 2018 Under-20 World Champion Norris, plus brothers Taylor and Bailey Campbell.
Paul Dickenson with Rob Walker at the England Athletics Awards (Mark Shearman)
His first job in broadcasting was interviewing Carl Lewis at the 1987 World Cup and in 1990 he was promoted to the commentary box at the Commonwealth Games.
Once he was asked to interpret the secret well and said: I can comment to an aunt or uncle who may not know anything about athletics, so you have to make it sound very clear. It takes a lot of background reading and preparation.”
Jake Norris (Mark Shearman)
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