Jack Braughton (22 February 1921 – 30 October 2016)^[1][2] was a British long-distance runner who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.^[3] He was born in Grimsby.^[4][5]

Biography

Braughton was born in February 1921 in Grimsby and attended Grimsby Technical College.^[2] He ran for Cleethorpes Harriers and Grimsby Harriers, winning the Eastern-Counties Junior Cross-Country title in 1939.^[2] Braughton was in the army in India, where he continued running, with the aim of competing at the Olympics.^[2] He joined the Blackheath Harriers,^[5] and later won multiple titles in Surrey in the three-mile event.^[2]

Braughton worked on a building site,^[6] and needed permission to take time off from work to compete at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.^[7] He had to do so in his own time, and was not paid to take time off from work.^[8] Braughton raced in the men's 5000 metres, finishing in eighth place in his heat.^[9] As an amateur, he lost half a day's pay, and made his own way to Wembley Stadium using public transport.^[10] Once at the stadium, he changed into his running gear, competed in the heat, and went home.^[11]

After the Olympics, Braughton carried on with running.^[12] In 1955, he finished in sixth place in his first ever marathon.^[5] He continued to take part in running until he was 80 years old.^[5] At the age of 90, he also did ballroom dancing four days a week.^[5]

References

External links

• Jack Braughton at Olympedia
• Jack Braughton at Team GB