Cecil Matthews
Encyclopedia
Cecil Henry Matthews (13 October 1914 – 8 November 1987) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
long distance runner
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
from Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
, who represented New Zealand
New Zealand at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Jack Lovelock — Athletics, Men's 1500 metres-Athletics:* Pat Boot* Jack Lovelock* Cecil Matthews-Boxing:* Thomas Arbuthnott* Norman Fisher* Clarrie Gordon-References:**...
at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
at Berlin and New Zealand at the 1938 British Empire Games
New Zealand at the 1938 British Empire Games
New Zealand sent a team of 71 competitors and 13 officials to the 1938 British Empire Games, which were held in Sydney, Australia. The flagbearer at the opening ceremony was James Leckie....
at Sydney.
At the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
he was eliminated from the 5000 metre event, finishing seventh in his heat, and was scratched from the 10,000 metres. He had tendon problems (like Pat Boot
Pat Boot
Vernon Patrick "Pat" Boot was a New Zealand middle distance runner from Canterbury, who represented New Zealand at the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin and at the 1938 British Empire Games at Sydney....
, who also had a disappointing result at Berlin), from running on the decks of the Wanganella.
At the 1938 British Empire Games
1938 British Empire Games
The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5–12, 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary...
he won two gold medals, in the three-mile (5 km) race where he beat Peter Ward
Peter Ward (athlete)
Peter Hans Dudley Ward was an English athlete who competed for Great Britain in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was born in Berlin, German Empire.In 1936 he finished eleventh the 1500 metres event....
, and the six-mile (10 km) event (although he had no experience at this distance, which did not appear on the New Zealand programme until 1948).
He was born in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. He served in the Air Force in World War II, then moved to Auckland where he died.