Jack Braughton
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Jack Braughton (22 February 1921 – 30 October 2016)Notice of Jack Braughton's death
/ref> was a British long-distance runner who competed in the
1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...
. He was born in
Grimsby Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of L ...
.


Biography

Braughton was born in February 1921 in
Grimsby Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of L ...
and attended Grimsby Technical College. He ran for Cleethorpes Harriers and Grimsby Harriers, winning the Eastern-Counties Junior Cross-Country title in 1939. Braughton was in the army in India, where he continued running, with the aim of competing at the Olympics. He joined the Blackheath Harriers, and later won multiple titles in Surrey in the three-mile event. Braughton worked on a building site, and needed permission to take time off from work to compete at the
1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...
in London. He had to do so in his own time, and was not paid to take time off from work. Braughton raced in the men's 5000 metres, finishing in eighth place in his heat. As an amateur, he lost half a day's pay, and made his own way to
Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 2002 to 2003. The stadium ...
using public transport. Once at the stadium, he changed into his running gear, competed in the heat, and went home. After the Olympics, Braughton carried on with running. In 1955, he finished in sixth place in his first ever marathon. He continued to take part in running until he was 80 years old. At the age of 90, he also did
ballroom dancing Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. ...
four days a week.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Braughton, Jack 1921 births 2016 deaths Sportspeople from Grimsby English male long-distance runners Olympic athletes of Great Britain Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics