Joe Deakin (Joseph Edmund Deakin; 6 February 1879 – 30 June 1972) was a British athlete who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He was born in Shelton, Staffordshire and died in Dulwich. Joe Deakin served with the Rifle Brigade and fought in the Boer War. During this time he set South African records at both the 880 yards and 1 mile. While posted to Ireland, he ran with Clonliffe Harriers and won the Irish 1 mile and 4 mile titles in 1901. 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. He finished second in the English national cross-country championships in 1907 and showed sufficient form in track races during the early part of the 1908 season to be selected to race in three ev