Joseph Edmund Deakin (6 February 1879 – 30 June 1972) was a British athlete who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.

Returning to England, he joined Herne Hill Harriers in 1903 and soon established a reputation as one of the country's finest cross-country runners, winning an individual bronze (1905) and team gold medals (1905, 1906 and 1908) at the International Cross Country Championships.

After a celebratory lunch, complete with champagne refreshments, he lined up for the heats of the five miles competition.

[1] Deakin joined Surrey AC after the Olympics and competed for his new club in the Polytechnic Marathon.

After service in World War I, which saw him temporarily blinded, he returned to racing and improved his previous marathon performance by finishing 8th in the 1920 "Poly".