At the Olympics, Robertson won easily in the first round of the 3200 metres steeplechase, finishing in 11:10.0.

Robertson was not quite able to catch the other leader, however, and trailed fellow Briton Arthur Russell by two yards at the finish.

[1][4] On 13 September 1908 Robertson set a world record at 15:01.2 over 5,000 metres, running on a concrete cycle track in Stockholm.

Later, together with his brother, he ran a sports shop in Peterborough, and then passed it over to his son.

[5] In January 2010, a new J D Wetherspoon pub in Perry Barr, Birmingham (close to Perry Barr Stadium, the former home of Birchfield Harriers) was named 'The Arthur Robertson' in his honour.