Surgeries can be very dangerous and misfortunes abound. The same tool that can save someone might also take their life. And the sporting community was reminded of this dismal reality as a result of an unfortunate surgery. In the tragic incident, one of Canada’s greatest long-distance runners breathed his last while undergoing routine knee surgery. The loss of their legend has devastated the track and field world. But while the world and fans grieve, let’s celebrate the life of the man who changed many things. Let’s celebrate Jerome Drayton.

Jerome Drayton, the iconic athlete, clinched the 1977 Boston Marathon title. He also held the Canadian men’s marathon record for 43 years. The recent news of his unexpected death at the age of 80 has left the athletic world in mourning. Cardinal Funeral Homes revealed that Drayton left his earthly abode on February 10, Monday in Toronto. According to reports, this unfortunate incident occurred because of knee surgery.

Drayton’s journey to becoming a marathon icon was anything but conventional. Drayton’s identity in childhood was Peter Buniak. He was born to Ukrainian parents and later immigrated to Canada with his mother in 1956. It was in 1969 when Peter Buniak officially became “Jerome Drayton”. “I always liked the name Jerome,” the track legend once explained. He further added, “I picked Drayton from about 20 others …. I tried putting Jerome with all the others and Drayton seemed to fit best.”

He further added, “I picked Drayton from about 20 others… I tried putting Jerome with all the others and Drayton seemed to fit best.” His competitive spirit surfaced in high school, and he later admitted his initial motivation for running had little to do with the sport itself. “I think I may have tried to impress a girl; try to win her away from somebody else,” he said.

“That didn’t work but I sort of figured at least I got an 18-year athletic career out of it. I loved the winning and I loved the running part.” From the very beginning Drayton had his goal set in mind. In 1968 je began his journey by taking the first marathon in Detroit. And the ambitious goal fuelling his quest was his dream of making the Canadian team for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. And magically enough, he met the Olympic standard by three seconds. Jerome once shared,“Trying to explain the agony of a first marathon is like trying to explain colour to someone who is born blind”.

Cut to 1975. The defining moment was awaiting to leave its mark. Jerome Drayton set the impeccable Canadian marathon record adding the feather to his hat. He timed 2 hours 10 minutes, and nine seconds at the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan. That record continued to reign the throne until 2018. And when it was finally broken, the legendary athlete himself remarked, “I think it’s about time the record was (broken). I think it should have (happened) about 30 or 40 years ago but then I guess the quality of marathon runners wasn’t that great in those years.”

A year later, he competed in the Olympic marathon. But it wasn’t too easy for him as he stepped on the quest while battling a cold. Nevertheless, he finished sixth. Yet again, in 1977, he made another history. Jerome Drayton became the first Canadian in 29 years to win the Boston Marathon. He left American record holder Bill Rodgers behind at the 16-mile mark. Moreover, he secured the victory by a margin of about a minute. Yet, shockingly enough, rather than reveling in his triumph, he voiced his frustrations.

Jerome Drayton — the track legend who transformed Canadian distance racing

“Drayton was hardly the typical, exhausted champion basking in afterglow,” The New York Times noted. Instead, he criticized a congested start, inadequate water stations, and lack of competition, calling it “almost like a Sunday run back home.” Drayton was a three-time champion at the prestigious Fukuoka Marathon (1969, 1975, and 1976), an event regarded as the unofficial world championship in his era. 

Despite a shoe malfunction in 1975, he fought through pain to claim victory. Later, Drayton opined, “Boston, in my years, it wasn’t really that high quality.” He further continued, “There were only two or three runners that I’d have to worry about in terms of competition. But in Japan, it was usually anywhere from up to about 20 including the Japanese. It was very high quality in those days.”

Beyond competition, Drayton was a student of the sport, meticulously analyzing training and nutrition. “Anything to do with health and fitness — I would read and make notes for myself,” he once stated. Drayton continued, “Anything to do with training. If there was something new, then I would build it into my training program. You have to get to know your own body. It’s not enough to just know the body in general. As it related to running and nutrition, you eventually have to get to know yourself what your needs are.”

Adding to this, what remains unknown to many is the fact, he did not just deal with the pressure of being an athlete. On one hand he dealt with the pressure of grueling training weeks of up to 300 kilometers. And on the other hand the icon also managed a full-time job. Reflecting on the challenges athletes faced in his era, he stated, “An athletic career was considered to be a serious hobby instead of a profession.” 

He did not put a pause to his quest following his retirement. Post-retirement Jerome Drayton remained connected to athletics, working as a consultant for Ontario’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Recreation. 

Undoubtedly, Drayton’s impact on Canadian distance running is undeniable. While his career was filled with accolades, his unexpected passing during what should have been a routine procedure serves as a sobering reminder of life’s unpredictability. The running world has lost not just a champion, but a trailblazer whose legacy will endure for generations.