Ann Packer
Encyclopedia
Ann Elizabeth Packer MBE (born 8 March 1942 in Moulsford
, Oxfordshire
, UK) is a former British
sprinter
, hurdler
and long jumper
. She won a gold medal in the 800 metres
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo.
Ann Packer was a member of Reading Athletic Club
when she was selected for the British team. She was in the 4 x 100 metres relay
team that won a silver medal in the 1962 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal in the 1962 European Athletics Championships.
Packer travelled to Tokyo
in 1964 where she shared a room with long jump gold medallist Mary Rand
. Packer was hoping to win her favourite event, the 400 metres
, but was beaten into second place by Betty Cuthbert
of Australia
, despite setting a new European record (52.2sec). After winning a silver medal in the 400 metres Packer had no plans to run in the 800 metres
and had a shopping trip planned until her fiancé, Robbie Brightwell
finished fourth in the 400 metres. Disappointed for him, she turned to the 800 metres, an event which she had only raced in five times before. In her heat and semi-final Packer finished fifth and third, running 2:12.6 and 2:06.0 respectively, being beaten by Frenchwoman Maryvonne Dupureur
clocking 2:04.5 and 2:04.5.
She thus started the final the slowest of the eight contestants, having raced at the distance only seven times before. Packer was sixth at 400 metres, lying behind Dupureur, she was third at 600 m and took the lead in the final straight, using her sprinting speed to take the gold. She broke the world record with a time of 2:01.1 minutes.
After winning the gold medal, she announced her retirement at the age of 22 and so had one of the shortest athletics career of any Olympic gold medallist. It would be another forty years before another British woman, Kelly Holmes
would win the 800 metres despite the event being very successful for Britain's men.
Later in the same games Robbie Brightwell won a silver medal in the 4 x 400 m relay. They later married and had three sons, Gary, Ian
and David
, the latter two becoming footballers with Manchester City
. She and Robbie were each awarded the MBE in 1965. Packer now lives in Congleton
in Cheshire.
In 1966 Packer appeared in an experiment for the BBC TV history programme, Chronicle
to see how far geese could walk in a day. She was chosen because however far the geese went, she'd still be with them at the end.
Moulsford
Moulsford is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire. In 1974 it was transferred from Berkshire to the county of Oxfordshire, and from Wallingford Rural District to the district of South Oxfordshire....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, UK) is a former British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
, hurdler
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
and long jumper
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
. She won a gold medal in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo.
Ann Packer was a member of Reading Athletic Club
Reading Athletic Club
Reading Athletic Club, based in Reading, Berkshire, is one of the oldest and longest established athletic clubs in the United Kingdom. They officially formed in November 1881, however records show that they were one of the inaugural clubs that formed the governing body of athletics at that time,...
when she was selected for the British team. She was in the 4 x 100 metres relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
team that won a silver medal in the 1962 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal in the 1962 European Athletics Championships.
Packer travelled to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1964 where she shared a room with long jump gold medallist Mary Rand
Mary Rand
Mary Denise Rand, MBE, is a former English track-and-field athlete. She won the gold medal in the long jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics by breaking the world record, becoming the first-ever British female to win an Olympic gold medal in a track and field event.-Early life:She is the daughter of...
. Packer was hoping to win her favourite event, the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
, but was beaten into second place by Betty Cuthbert
Betty Cuthbert
Elizabeth Cuthbert AM, MBE is an Australian athlete, and a fourfold Olympic champion....
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, despite setting a new European record (52.2sec). After winning a silver medal in the 400 metres Packer had no plans to run in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
and had a shopping trip planned until her fiancé, Robbie Brightwell
Robbie Brightwell
Robert Ian Brightwell MBE is a former track and field athlete.He moved to England with his family in 1946 and grew up in Donnington, Shropshire...
finished fourth in the 400 metres. Disappointed for him, she turned to the 800 metres, an event which she had only raced in five times before. In her heat and semi-final Packer finished fifth and third, running 2:12.6 and 2:06.0 respectively, being beaten by Frenchwoman Maryvonne Dupureur
Maryvonne Dupureur
Maryvonne Samson Dupureur was a French middle distance who specialized in the 800 metres.Born in Saint-Brieuc, she won the silver medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan...
clocking 2:04.5 and 2:04.5.
She thus started the final the slowest of the eight contestants, having raced at the distance only seven times before. Packer was sixth at 400 metres, lying behind Dupureur, she was third at 600 m and took the lead in the final straight, using her sprinting speed to take the gold. She broke the world record with a time of 2:01.1 minutes.
After winning the gold medal, she announced her retirement at the age of 22 and so had one of the shortest athletics career of any Olympic gold medallist. It would be another forty years before another British woman, Kelly Holmes
Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes, DBE, MBE is a retired British middle distance athlete. She specialised in the 800 metres and 1500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...
would win the 800 metres despite the event being very successful for Britain's men.
Later in the same games Robbie Brightwell won a silver medal in the 4 x 400 m relay. They later married and had three sons, Gary, Ian
Ian Brightwell
Ian Robert Brightwell is an English former footballer, he played for six clubs, most notably spending twelve years with Manchester City...
and David
David Brightwell
David John Brightwell is an English former professional footballer who played in defence for ten clubs.-Biography:Brightwell was born in Lutterworth, England...
, the latter two becoming footballers with Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. She and Robbie were each awarded the MBE in 1965. Packer now lives in Congleton
Congleton
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...
in Cheshire.
In 1966 Packer appeared in an experiment for the BBC TV history programme, Chronicle
Chronicle (UK TV series)
Chronicle was a BBC Television series shown monthly and then fortnightly on BBC Two from 18 June 1966 to its last broadcast in May 1991.Chronicle focused on popular archaeology and related subjects.The BBC have made some editions available ....
to see how far geese could walk in a day. She was chosen because however far the geese went, she'd still be with them at the end.
