Lewis Luxton
Encyclopedia
Lewis Luxton was an Australian rower
who competed for Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics
and became a member of the International Olympic Committee
.
Luxton was born in Melbourne
, Victoria, Australia, the son of Sir Harold Luxton who was a member of the IOC
. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School
before going to England to study at Pembroke College, Cambridge
. In 1931 he and his partner William Sambell
were runners-up in Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
to Jumbo Edwards
and Lewis Clive
. In 1932 he was a member of the winning Cambridge
boat in the Boat Race. The 1932 Cambridge crew won the Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley, rowing as Leander Club
. They were subsequently chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
, where they came fourth in the eights
.
Luxton served with his father on the AOF Executive Committee for many years. When his father, resigned from the IOC on 9 May 1951 Otto Mayer immediately announced Lewis would be his successor. Luxton, as deputy chairman, undertook a great deal of work for the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne. In 1957 he was awarded CBE
for services to the Olympic movement.
Luxton was Chairman of Shell Australia where he was able to give support to Ralph Doubell
who was an employee. At Mexico in the 1968 Summer Olympics
, he made the presentation to Doubell of the gold medal for the 800m.
Luxton was made an honorary member of the IOC when he retired in 1974. Luxton had the deciding vote on whether Australia should send athletes to compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow. In a 6-5 vote, Australia attended the Games officially.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed for Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
and became a member of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
.
Luxton was born 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...
, Victoria, Australia, the son of Sir Harold Luxton who was a member of the IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
before going to England to study at Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
. In 1931 he and his partner William Sambell
William Sambell
William Austin Tyers "Bill" Sambell was an Australian rower who competed for Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics....
were runners-up in Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
to Jumbo Edwards
Hugh Edwards (rower)
Hugh Robert Arthur Edwards , also known as Jumbo Edwards, attended Christ Church, Oxford and was an English rower who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics....
and Lewis Clive
Lewis Clive
Lewis Clive was a British rower who won a gold medal in the 1932 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action during the Spanish Civil War....
. In 1932 he was a member of the winning Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
boat in the Boat Race. The 1932 Cambridge crew won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious 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 clubs...
at Henley, rowing as Leander Club
Leander Club
Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is based in Remenham in the English county of Berkshire, adjoining Henley-on-Thames...
. They were subsequently chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where they came fourth in the eights
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
.
Luxton served with his father on the AOF Executive Committee for many years. When his father, resigned from the IOC on 9 May 1951 Otto Mayer immediately announced Lewis would be his successor. Luxton, as deputy chairman, undertook a great deal of work for 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. In 1957 he was awarded CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to the Olympic movement.
Luxton was Chairman of Shell Australia where he was able to give support to Ralph Doubell
Ralph Doubell
Ralph Douglas Doubell AM is an Australian former athlete, and gold medallist at the 1968 Summer Olympics.-Biography:...
who was an employee. At Mexico in the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, he made the presentation to Doubell of the gold medal for the 800m.
Luxton was made an honorary member of the IOC when he retired in 1974. Luxton had the deciding vote on whether Australia should send athletes to compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow. In a 6-5 vote, Australia attended the Games officially.