Walter Goodall George (9 September 1858 – 4 June 1943) was a British runner from Calne who after setting numerous world records as an amateur, went professional in part to challenge the mile record-holder William Cummings, defeating him in several highly publicized races.

Before turning 20 in 1878, he trained for three months and boasted, to his friends' amusement, that he would one day run a mile in 4:12.

In his first race, he was given a 45-yard handicap and promptly won in 4:29, which caused the officials to withhold the prize money until they could determine whether he was a ringer.

His unorthodox training technique, necessitated by his apprenticeship, was to do what he called "100-up" which involved running in place with high knee lifts and springing, and to take baths in brine.

[5] Then, on 16 August at Stamford Bridge, London, George held his "ideal" pace for one lap – 59s – then slowed to 2:04+1⁄2 and 3:14.

On 3 June 1882, George ran another amateur world mile record of 4:19+2⁄5, leaving only Cummings and two other professionals with faster performances.

Travelling to America, George faced the top American miler Lon Myers over a series of three races in November 1882.

In the final 3/4 mile showdown, 60,000 watched George and Myers battle on a cold day on a bad track.

The next year, George sought revenge on Snook, as they met on 21 June at the Aston Lower Grounds in Birmingham for the AAA championships.

With nothing more to prove in the amateur world, George turned professional in 1885 and challenged Cummings over the mile.

The long-awaited mile challenge race was held on 31 August 1885 at Lillie Bridge, witnessed by some 30,000 spectators.

At the quarter mile point of the race, hindered by the slow track with sharp corners, George led with 58+3⁄5, a torrid pace which the crowd enthusiastically cheered.

The starting gun was fired by former two-mile record-holder Jack White and George, as he did the year before, led off.

The spectators, in contrast to the congratulatory mob which surrounded George the previous year upon his victory, waited silently for the time to be written on the blackboard.