John Charles Badcock (17 January 1903 – 29 May 1976), also known as Felix Badcock, was a British

rower Rowing, sometimes called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars are attached to the boat using oarlocks, while paddles are not connected to the boat. Rowing is di ...

who competed in the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...

and in the

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...

Life

Badcock was born in

West Ham West Ham is an area in East London, located east of Charing Cross in the west of the modern London Borough of Newham. The area, which lies immediately to the north of the River Thames and east of the River Lea, was originally an ancien ...

and educated at Merchant Taylor's School. His family had been in business as boat builders and wharfingers on the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

for nearly a hundred years. Badcock became a member of

Thames Rowing Club The Thames Rowing Club (TRC) is a rowing club based on the tidal Thames as it flows through the western suburbs of London. The TRC clubhouse stands on Putney Embankment. The club was founded in 1860. As at July 2022, Thames had won events at He ...

and had his first win at

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the thre ...

in 1925 in the

Wyfold Challenge Cup The Wyfold Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club. Boat clubs from any university, college ...

. In 1927 he was in the Thames

eight 8 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 8 or eight may also refer to: Years * AD 8, the eighth year of the AD era * 8 BC, the eighth year before the AD era Art *The Eight (Ashcan School), a group of twentieth century painters associated with the As ...

which won the

Grand Challenge Cup The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and best-known event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing cl ...

and in the

coxless four A coxless four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars, without a coxswain. The crew consists of four rowers, each having one oar. There are two rowers on th ...

which won the

Stewards' Challenge Cup The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine t ...

. In 1928 he was again in the winning Thames crews in the Grand and Stewards at Henley. The Thames eight was then chosen to represent Great Britain

rowing at the 1928 Summer Olympics Rowing at the 1928 Summer Olympics featured seven events, for men only. The competitions were held from 2 to 10 August. Medal summary Participating nations A total of 244 rowers from 19 nations competed at the Amsterdam Games: * * * * * ...

and won the silver medal. Sports Reference Olympic Sports – John Badcock
/ref> In 1932 he was again in the winning Thames crew in the Stewards Challenge Cup at Henley. The Thames coxless four was then chosen to represent Great Britain

rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics Rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics featured seven events. The competitions were held from August 9 to August 13 at the Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California. Medal summary Participating nations A total of 152 rowers from 13 nations compe ...

and won the gold medal in a hard race against the Germans. Badcock was appointed a vice-president of Thames Rowing Club in 1936. In 1934, Badcock married the swimmer,

Joyce Cooper Margaret Joyce Cooper (18 April 1909 – 22 July 2002), later known by her married name Joyce Badcock, was an English competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain at the Olympics and European championships, and England at the British Empire ...

, who had one silver and three bronze medals at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics. Their elder son, Felix Badcock, rowed for England at the

1958 Commonwealth Games The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (Welsh: Gemau Ymerodraeth Prydain a'r Gymanwlad 1958) were held in Cardiff, Wales, from 18–26 July 1958. Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games ...

and their younger son, Francis 'David', rowed for Oxford in 1958 as well as standing as reserve for the 1958 Commonwealth Games eight.

Achievements

Olympic Games

* 1928 – Silver, Eight * 1932 – Gold, Coxless Four

Henley Royal Regatta

* 1925 –

* 1927 –

* 1928 – Grand Challenge Cup * 1928 – Stewards' Challenge Cup * 1932 – Stewards' Challenge Cup

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Badcock, John 1903 births 1976 deaths People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood English male rowers British male rowers Olympic rowers for Great Britain Rowers at the 1928 Summer Olympics Rowers at the 1932 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain English Olympic medallists Olympic medalists in rowing Medalists at the 1932 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1928 Summer Olympics