Arthur James Robertson was a brilliant all-round sportsman who ran his way to Olympic glory just three years after taking up track and field seriously.

The son of a Glasgow doctor, he originally preferred cycling and only took up athletics at the age of 25 after an injury on his bike.

In 1908, he won both the English and International Cross-Country Championships, and finished second in the four-mile race at the AAA championships, earning himself a place on the British Olympic team.

In London that summer, he easily reached the final of the 3,200m steeplechase. On the day itself, he trailed for most of the race but staged a remarkable comeback at the bell, finishing just two yards behind winner and team-mate Arthur Russell. However, he followed silver with victory in his next event as a member of the three-man three-mile team, becoming the first Scot to win Olympic gold.

Later that year, he set a new world record for the 5,000m, running 15:01.2 on a concrete cycle track in Stockholm. He was also crowned the world cross-country champion for both the team and individual events in France, and set a new Scottish four-mile record that remained unbeaten for 45 years.

Despite this run of success, Arthur retired from athletics in 1909 to return to cycling, before later opening a sports shop. He died in 1957 aged 77.

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