John Sherwood (athlete)
Encyclopedia
John Sherwood is a British
athlete, who won the bronze medal
in the Olympic Games
in Mexico City
in 1968 for the 400 m hurdles. His time was 49.03 seconds, and he was third behind fellow British athlete David Hemery
, who took gold, and German Gerhard Hennige
(silver). The commentator, David Coleman
, who reached a near orgasm of excitement as Hemery crossed the line, made the unfortunate remark that he neither knew nor cared who came third in the race. It was an early example of Colemanballs
.
Sherwood also won a silver medal
in the European Athletics Championships in 1969 and a gold medal
in the Commonwealth Games
in 1970. Prior to this period he had studied at the then Loughborough College of Education
.
He was a Regular on the popular BBC Sports Programme The Superstars in the 70's and early 80's and in 1980 came 2nd in The World Superstars Final in America.
He is married to Sheila Sherwood
, who won a silver medal at the same Olympics in the long jump
. In his closing address in the successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games in London
, Lord Sebastian Coe
described how as a youngster in Sheffield
in 1968, John and Sheila Sherwood had inspired him to pursue his successful career in track athletics.
He is the father of tennis player David Sherwood
, a member of the British Davis Cup
team. He is the brother of Steve Sherwood
, the former Chelsea and Watford football
goalkeeper.
After 40 years of teaching PE, 37 of those at Firth Park Community Arts College, Sheffield, John retired in 2006 after a finale school sports day on 12 July at the Don Valley Stadium which was closed with an address from Lord Sebastian Coe
.
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, who won the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1968 for the 400 m hurdles. His time was 49.03 seconds, and he was third behind fellow British athlete David Hemery
David Hemery
David Peter Hemery, CBE, is a British former athlete, winner of the 400m hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics.He was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, but his father's work took the family to the United States, where he attended school and graduated from Boston University.Hemery's first...
, who took gold, and German Gerhard Hennige
Gerhard Hennige
Gerhard Hennige is a former German track and field athlete and Olympic medal winner, among the world's best at the 400 meter hurdles from 1966 to 1971....
(silver). The commentator, David Coleman
David Coleman
David Coleman, OBE is an English former sports commentator and TV presenter who worked for the BBC for almost fifty years. In 2000, he was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the Olympic movement....
, who reached a near orgasm of excitement as Hemery crossed the line, made the unfortunate remark that he neither knew nor cared who came third in the race. It was an early example of Colemanballs
Colemanballs
Colemanballs is a term coined by Private Eye magazine to describe verbal gaffes perpetrated by sports commentators. The word Colemanballs probably borrows from Colemans Meatballs, once familiar in the UK and sold by the company ColemanNatural...
.
Sherwood also won a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the European Athletics Championships in 1969 and a gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in 1970. Prior to this period he had studied at the then Loughborough College of Education
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
.
He was a Regular on the popular BBC Sports Programme The Superstars in the 70's and early 80's and in 1980 came 2nd in The World Superstars Final in America.
He is married to Sheila Sherwood
Sheila Sherwood
Sheila Sherwood is a former international Long jumper whose career highlights included a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, and a gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh...
, who won a silver medal at the same Olympics in the long jump
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...
. In his closing address in the successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games in 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...
, Lord Sebastian Coe
Sebastian Coe, Baron Coe
Sebastian Newbold Coe, Baron Coe, KBE , often known as Seb Coe, is an English former athlete and politician...
described how as a youngster in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in 1968, John and Sheila Sherwood had inspired him to pursue his successful career in track athletics.
He is the father of tennis player David Sherwood
David Sherwood
David Sherwood is a British tennis player.Sherwood is from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. In March 2005 he played with Andrew Murray in the Davis Cup, beating the Israeli doubles team....
, a member of the British Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
team. He is the brother of Steve Sherwood
Steve Sherwood
Stephen "Steve" Sherwood is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper, best remembered for his time at Watford, Chelsea and Grimsby Town.-Career:...
, the former Chelsea and Watford football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper.
After 40 years of teaching PE, 37 of those at Firth Park Community Arts College, Sheffield, John retired in 2006 after a finale school sports day on 12 July at the Don Valley Stadium which was closed with an address from Lord Sebastian Coe
Sebastian Coe, Baron Coe
Sebastian Newbold Coe, Baron Coe, KBE , often known as Seb Coe, is an English former athlete and politician...
.