Norman Pritchard
Encyclopedia
Norman Gilbert Pritchard (also known as Norman Trevor) (June 23, 1877 – October 31, 1929) was an athlete from India
who went on to star in Hollywood and Broadway
. He was of British descent and moved to England permanently in 1905.
Pritchard was born in Calcutta to George Petersen Pritchard and Helen Maynard Pritchard.
Pritchard was the first Indian athlete to participate in the Olympic Games
. He was also the first athlete from India and first athlete representing an Asian nation to win an Olympic medal. He won two silver medals in the 1900 Summer Olympics
in Paris
, France
. He came second in the 200 meters behind Walter Tewksbury of the United States and second in the 200 meters hurdles behind the legendary Alvin Kraenzlein
of the United States. Pritchard set a world record in the second heat of the 100 metre hurdles which was bettered by Kraenzlein in the final. He reached the final of the 110m hurdles where he placed 5th, and participated in 60m and 100m sprint where he failed to qualify for the final.
In 2005 the IAAF published the official track and field statistics for the 2004 Summer Olympics
. In the historical records section Pritchard was listed as having competed for Great Britain in 1900. Research by Olympic historians has shown that Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship in June 1900.
The IOC still regard Pritchard as having competed for India and his two medals are credited to India.
Pritchard won the Bengal
province 100 yards sprint title for seven consecutive years from 1894 to 1900 and set a meet record in 1898-99. He also won the 440 yards run and the 120 yards hurdles.
He studied at Saint Xaviers College, Calcutta, and is credited with the first hat-trick in an open football tournament in India, for Saint Xavier's against Sovabazar in July 1897.
He served as Secretary of the Indian Football Association
from 1900 to 1902. He moved permanently to England in 1905.
He later moved to the United States where he became a silent movie actor under the screen name Norman Trevor. He acted alongside Hollywood legends like Ronald Colman
in movies like Beau Geste
(1926), Clara Bow
's father in Dancing Mothers
(1926) and Tonight at Twelve (1929). He also appeared in several Broadway
shows.
He died in Los Angeles
of a brain malady.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
who went on to star in Hollywood and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. He was of British descent and moved to England permanently in 1905.
Pritchard was born in Calcutta to George Petersen Pritchard and Helen Maynard Pritchard.
Pritchard was the first Indian athlete to participate 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...
. He was also the first athlete from India and first athlete representing an Asian nation to win an Olympic medal. He won two silver medals in the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He came second in the 200 meters behind Walter Tewksbury of the United States and second in the 200 meters hurdles behind the legendary Alvin Kraenzlein
Alvin Kraenzlein
Alvin Christian Kraenzlein was an American athlete. He was the first sportsman to win four Olympic titles in a single Olympic Games...
of the United States. Pritchard set a world record in the second heat of the 100 metre hurdles which was bettered by Kraenzlein in the final. He reached the final of the 110m hurdles where he placed 5th, and participated in 60m and 100m sprint where he failed to qualify for the final.
In 2005 the IAAF published the official track and field statistics for the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. In the historical records section Pritchard was listed as having competed for Great Britain in 1900. Research by Olympic historians has shown that Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship in June 1900.
The IOC still regard Pritchard as having competed for India and his two medals are credited to India.
Pritchard won the Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
province 100 yards sprint title for seven consecutive years from 1894 to 1900 and set a meet record in 1898-99. He also won the 440 yards run and the 120 yards hurdles.
He studied at Saint Xaviers College, Calcutta, and is credited with the first hat-trick in an open football tournament in India, for Saint Xavier's against Sovabazar in July 1897.
He served as Secretary of the Indian Football Association
Indian Football Association
The Indian Football Association , [abbreviated as IFA] is the organization that administers association football in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the oldest Football Association in India and was founded in 1893. Amongst the founders was former England international Elphinstone Jackson....
from 1900 to 1902. He moved permanently to England in 1905.
He later moved to the United States where he became a silent movie actor under the screen name Norman Trevor. He acted alongside Hollywood legends like Ronald Colman
Ronald Colman
Ronald Charles Colman was an English actor.-Early years:He was born in Richmond, Surrey, England, the second son and fourth child of Charles Colman and his wife Marjory Read Fraser. His siblings included Eric, Edith, and Marjorie. He was educated at boarding school in Littlehampton, where he...
in movies like Beau Geste
Beau Geste (1926 film)
Beau Geste is a 1926 silent film, based on the novel by P. C. Wren. This version starred Ronald Colman as the title character. -Plot:The plot concerns a valuable gem, which one of the Geste brothers, Beau, is thought to have stolen from his adoptive family.-Cast:*Ronald Colman as Michael 'Beau'...
(1926), Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
's father in Dancing Mothers
Dancing Mothers
Dancing Mothers is a 1926 silent drama film, produced by Paramount Pictures, shot on Long Island, New York, in late 1925. It was directed by Herbert Brenon, starred Alice Joyce, Conway Tearle and Clara Bow. It went on distribution on March 1, 1926...
(1926) and Tonight at Twelve (1929). He also appeared in several Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows.
He died 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...
of a brain malady.
External Links
- Norman Trevor at IMDb.com
- Norman Trevor; IBDb.com
- with Florence ReedFlorence ReedFlorence Reed was a stage, screen and television actress. She is remembered for several outstanding stage productions, including The Shanghai Gesture, The Lullaby, The Yellow Ticket and The Wanderer. Her best remembered movie role was as Miss Havisham in the 1934 production of "Great Expectations"...
and Earle FoxeEarle FoxeEarle Foxe was an American actor.-Background:Foxe was born Earl Aldrich Fox in Oxford, Ohio, to Charles Aldrich Fox, originally of Flint, Michigan, and Eva May Herron. His older half sister was Ethel May Fox, a music teacher, born in Michigan to Charles Aldrich Fox and Katie Eldridge. Always very...
in ...The Black Panther's Cub from 1921