Two-time Olympian and legendary BBC commentator, Paul Dickenson breathed his last on Tuesday. The legendary Olympian was with his family at his home at the time of his death. Dickenson, who specialized in athletics and had been involved with sports commentating for the last decade, was 74 years old at the time of his demise. The tragic news was first shared by the BBC on Wednesday. Competing as an athlete, Dickenson participated in the hammer throw event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. 

While Dickenson missed a podium finish, he did impress en route to his 14th-place finish. Showing impeccable zeal, Dickenson once again qualified for his second Olympics four years later in Montreal. Apart from the Olympics, the late 74-year-old also competed in two editions of the Commonwealth Games, in 1978 and 1982, representing England. 

However, once he was done with his athletics career, Dickenson decided to switch careers. It was then he started his iconic journey with the BBC that lasted for over two decades. Since 1992, Dickenson has a unique record of commentating on every Summer and Winter Olympic Games till 2014. During the time of his commentating career, Dickenson had the opportunity to call some of the historical moments in sports. 

It was Dickenson’s voice that made the fans thrilled when Jessica Ennis Hill won the Heptathlon gold at the London Olympics in 2012. He also had the honor to call the iconic victory of Lizzy Yarnold, who won her skeleton gold at Sochi in 2014. Adding more jewels to his ornamented career, Dickenson featured in the elite group of 5 BBC commentators that had the opportunity to thrill the audiences with their iconic voices as Team Great Britain won the Olympic gold in both the Summer and the Winter games. 

Mourning the demise of Paul, Olympic gold medalist Dame Denise Lewis herself shared how her journey was narrated to the world by Paul. She wrote in an X post, “The voice that translated my journey from CWG gold in 1994 to winning Olympic gold in Sydney.  Paul became my friend and support when I joined BBC in 2009.” Dame Denise further added, “His passion for athletics knew no bounds and the ppl he impacted will be deeply saddened by his passing RIP 💔”

In fact, Dickinson’s impact on sports commentating was so significant that he was considered in the same bracket as David Coleman and Ron Pickering. When asked about his secret of becoming a legendary commentator, the deceased legend stated, “You’ve got to sound knowledgeable and you’ve got to make it sound easy. I might be commentating to an auntie or an uncle who might not know anything about athletics, so you’ve got to make it sound very simple. That requires a huge amount of background reading and preparation.”

Surely, the passing of such a stalwart has left a sad impact on the fans. They immediately took to the comment section to express their feelings. 

Netizens and sports enthusiast honor Paul Dickenson’s legacy 

Fans quickly flocked to the comments section to mourn the loss of the legend.  Expressing sadness over Paul Dickenson’s passing, one commentator reflected on how Paul impacted their career. They commented, “Sad to read this. Paul taught me a lot about stadium announcing/commentating. Long in my memory will be sharing announcing/comms with him at the 2012 Paralympics. I loved listening to him on BBC TV coverage – so knowledgeable about the Field especially Throws. RIP Paul.”

The fan recalled learning about stadium announcing and commentating from Dickenson, particularly during their shared experience at the 2012 Paralympics. Honoring the legacy that Paul left behind, his close acquaintance also emphasized his expertise, especially in field events and the throw. They also added how his knowledge and voice were integral to BBC TV coverage. 

Another sports enthusiast reflected admiration for Paul Dickenson’s extensive career as a BBC commentator during a pivotal time in athletics. Known for his insightful and engaging commentary, Dickenson covered iconic events like the Olympics and made complex sports accessible to all audiences. The disheartened fan wrote, “Sad to hear. Many years of great commentary from Paul throughout a golden era for athletics.” They also added how Dickenson’s tenure coincided with a golden era of British athletics, including moments like Jessica Ennis-Hill’s 2012 heptathlon gold.

One commentator mourned the Olympian’s sudden demise. They mentioned how Paul Dickenson’s approachable demeanor made him a man different from the others. Despite the commenter working in the often-contentious field of anti-doping, Dickenson’s warmth and professionalism made their interactions easy and welcoming. “Such sad news- what a lovely man and a wonderful voice, welcoming despite my role as anti-doping expert. RIP Paul, you are missed already!”, read the comment.

Another fan acknowledged Paul Dickenson’s legacy as a knowledgeable and passionate sports commentator. He did his job with expertise, and preparation and made sure to make the complexity of the sport easier for a diverse audience. They wrote, “Sad to read of this. Highly knowledgeable at his job, and a great enthusiast for his sport, RIP.” His authoritative voice and enthusiasm elevated iconic moments like Jessica Ennis-Hill’s 2012 gold and Lizzy Yarnold’s 2014 victory.

Another netizen who also knew Paul personally could not resist highlighting the versatility and charisma that Paul carried. Beyond his broadcasting prowess at major events, such as the Olympics and athletics competitions, Dickenson also served as an engaging MC for event launches like Great Run. Moreover, his solid sense of humor made his commentary a show indeed. They stated, “A sad loss. Dicko commentated on many events in my time at Great Run and also was a brilliant MC at event launches. He was a lovely guy with a great sense of humour too.”

Another comment honored Payl Dickenson’s legacy by referring to him as a successor to legendary BBC commentators David Coleman and Ron Pickering. The comment read, “Rest easy to a true great. After #Coleman and #Pickering came Dickenson. Paul Dickinson was the voice of athletics for many. Strength to his family and friends. God bless you and thank you 🙏” Known for his knowledge and simplicity, Dickenson truly made athletics accessible to all audiences.

Thus, with the iconic BBC voice leaving his earthly abode, Essentially Sports extends its condolences and prays for Dickenson’s soul to Rest in Peace.