Don Thompson (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Donald James Thompson MBE
(20 January 1933 – 4 October 2006) was a British
athlete. He was the only British man to win a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics
, held in Rome
, in the men's 50 km walk
. He also won a bronze medal at the 1962 European Championships
, also for the 50 km walk.
Thompson was born in Hillingdon
, London
. A small man, only 5'5" tall, he was originally a runner, but an injury to his Achilles' tendon forced him to take up race walking instead. He came second in the 52½ miles London to Brighton road race in 1954, and then won the event in each of the following eight years. He raced in the 50 km walk in the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
, Australia
, but withdrew dehydrated after 45 km while in fifth place.
He practised to compete at the Olympics Games in Rome in 1960 by exercising in a steam-filled bathroom at home, with the heating turned up and wearing a heavy tracksuit. After exercising for about half an hour, he would feel faint. At the time, he attributed his light-headedness to the effects of heat and humidity, but later realised that it was carbon monoxide
fumes from the paraffin
heater. His mother made him a hat like a képi
to keep the sun off his head and neck during the race; together with his sunglasses, he was nicknamed "Il Topolino" (Italian
: "Mickey Mouse
", literally "little mouse"). In the 50 km race, staged at temperatures of up to 87°F, the front two competitors were disqualified, and Thompson beat the John Ljunggren
of Sweden
by 17 seconds to win the gold medal in 4 hours 25 minutes 30 seconds. The only other British competitor to win a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics was Anita Lonsbrough, in the 200 m breaststroke
. He was voted Sportsman of the Year
in 1960 by the Sports Writers' Association.
He won a bronze medal at the European Championships in 1962, and was tenth at the 1964 Summer Olympics
, both in the 50 km walk. He continued racing for another 40 years, until the early 1990s and completing more than 150 marathon
s and a 100 mile racewalk in 1978. He habitually woke at 4am to run 8 miles each morning. In 1983, he fell and broke his collarbone during a marathon walk in Thanet
; undeterred, he completed the race before seeking treatment. He represented Britain in a race in France in 1991, aged 58 years and 89 days, becoming the oldest person to represent Britain in an athletic event.
Outside athletics, he worked as an insurance clerk, a gardener and as a teacher (at Southland's School, New Romney). He was awarded the MBE
in 1970. He collapsed at home and died at Frimley Park Hospital
after suffering a brain aneurysm. He married in 1967, and was survived by his wife, and their son and daughter.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(20 January 1933 – 4 October 2006) was a 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...
athlete. He was the only British man to win a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, held in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, in the men's 50 km walk
Race walking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance athletic event. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times...
. He also won a bronze medal at the 1962 European Championships
1962 European Championships in Athletics
The 7th European Athletics Championships were held from 12 September to 16 September 1962 in the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.-Men's results:-Women's results:-Medal table:-References:* *...
, also for the 50 km walk.
Thompson was born in Hillingdon
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. A small man, only 5'5" tall, he was originally a runner, but an injury to his Achilles' tendon forced him to take up race walking instead. He came second in the 52½ miles London to Brighton road race in 1954, and then won the event in each of the following eight years. He raced in the 50 km walk in the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 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...
, but withdrew dehydrated after 45 km while in fifth place.
He practised to compete at the Olympics Games in Rome in 1960 by exercising in a steam-filled bathroom at home, with the heating turned up and wearing a heavy tracksuit. After exercising for about half an hour, he would feel faint. At the time, he attributed his light-headedness to the effects of heat and humidity, but later realised that it was carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
fumes from the paraffin
Paraffin
In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with "alkane", indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to a mixture of alkanes that falls within the 20 ≤ n ≤ 40 range; they are found in the solid state at room temperature and begin to enter the...
heater. His mother made him a hat like a képi
Kepi
The kepi is a cap with a flat circular top and a visor or peak . Etymologically, the word is a borrowing of the French képi, itself a respelling of the Alemannic Käppi: a diminutive form of Kappe, meaning "cap"....
to keep the sun off his head and neck during the race; together with his sunglasses, he was nicknamed "Il Topolino" (Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: "Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
", literally "little mouse"). In the 50 km race, staged at temperatures of up to 87°F, the front two competitors were disqualified, and Thompson beat the John Ljunggren
John Ljunggren
John Arthur Ljunggren was a Swedish athlete who competed mainly in the 50 kilometer walk.Ljunggren first appeared in the Olympics in the 1948 Games held in postwar London...
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
by 17 seconds to win the gold medal in 4 hours 25 minutes 30 seconds. The only other British competitor to win a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics was Anita Lonsbrough, in the 200 m breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
. He was voted Sportsman of the Year
Sportsman of the Year
Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." Both Americans and non-Americans are eligible, though in the past the...
in 1960 by the Sports Writers' Association.
He won a bronze medal at the European Championships in 1962, and was tenth 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...
, both in the 50 km walk. He continued racing for another 40 years, until the early 1990s and completing more than 150 marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
s and a 100 mile racewalk in 1978. He habitually woke at 4am to run 8 miles each morning. In 1983, he fell and broke his collarbone during a marathon walk in Thanet
Thanet
Thanet is a local government district of Kent, England which was formed under the Local Government Act 1972, and came into being on 1 April 1974...
; undeterred, he completed the race before seeking treatment. He represented Britain in a race in France in 1991, aged 58 years and 89 days, becoming the oldest person to represent Britain in an athletic event.
Outside athletics, he worked as an insurance clerk, a gardener and as a teacher (at Southland's School, New Romney). He was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1970. He collapsed at home and died at Frimley Park Hospital
Frimley Park Hospital
Frimley Park Hospital is a large, 720-bed NHS hospital in Frimley, Surrey, part of the Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.It opened in 1974 to provide a full range of district general hospital services for North East Hampshire and West Surrey, a catchment population of about 365,000...
after suffering a brain aneurysm. He married in 1967, and was survived by his wife, and their son and daughter.