The Geelong Guild Athletic Club was founded on July 13th, 1908. Our current singlet featuring the rampant lion was adopted the following year.

 

Perhaps the most exposure that the Guild lion received was during the 1950’s when John Landy wore it on the world stage. John won an Olympic bronze medal, a Commonwealth gold medal and set world records over both 1500m and the mile. After the 1956 Olympics, John made a speech at a council dinner on behalf of the athletes, and it was here that he outlined the importance of establishing a running track in Geelong. The cinder track that was subsequently built was named in his honour.

 

The tradition that John Landy established has continued over the years, and the Geelong Guild singlet has been worn by a huge range of athletes including Commonwealth and Olympic medallists Chris Commons, Peter Fossey, Joan Beretta, Lauren Johns, Rebecca Metcalfe and more recently, Olympic Gold medallist Kate Allen.