Godfrey Rampling
 Rampling in 1934. |
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing  Great Britain |
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| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1936 Berlin | 4×400 metres |
 |
1932 Los Angeles | 4×400 metres |
Representing  England |
||
| British Empire Games | ||
|
1934 London | 440 yards |
|
1934 London | 4×440 yards |
Godfrey Lionel Rampling (14 May 1909 – 20 June 2009) was an English athlete and army officer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He turned 100 on 14 May 2009 and was the oldest living British Olympian.
Life and career
Rampling was born in Blackheath, London, the son of Gertrude Anne (Taylor) and Horace Johnson Rampling, a costumier.[1] Rampling won the British AAA championships in the 440 yd (400 m) in 1931 and 1934.
At the 1932 Summer Olympics, Rampling was fourth in his semifinal in the individual 400 metre event and didn't reach the final, but ran the anchor leg to help the British 4×400 m relay team win the silver medal, behind the United States.
At the 1934 British Empire Games in London, Rampling won the 440 yd (400 m), and helped the English 4×440 yards relay team to capture the gold medal.
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Rampling was again fourth in the semifinals of 400 metre competition and ran the second leg in the gold medal winning British 4x400 m relay team.
Rampling was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Artillery, attached to NATO, until retiring in 1958 after 29 years service.[2] His daughter Charlotte is a noted film actress. He was, as of October 2007, the last surviving male athletics medallist from the 1932 Summer Olympics and the last male gold medallist in athletics from the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Rampling was Britain's oldest living Olympic Gold medallist[2] and also oldest living Olympic competitor.[3] He celebrated his centenary with his family on 14 May 2009 at Bushey in Hertfordshire.[2]
Rampling died in his sleep aged 100 on 20 June 2009.[4]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Oldest British Olympian turns 100
- ↑ British Olympic Association: Oldest British Olympian Celebrates 100th Birthday
- ↑ Telegraph.co.uk.: Britain's oldest Olympian Godfrey Rampling dies aged 100
External links
- Godfrey Rampling - Daily Telegraph obituary
- Godfrey Rampling's profile at sports-reference.com
- Article on Godfrey Rampling's forthcoming 100th birthday
- IAAF Obituary
- Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB
- Use dmy dates from March 2012
- Use British English from March 2012
- 1909 births
- 2009 deaths
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1934 British Empire Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Commonwealth Games competitors for England
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England
- English centenarians
- English sprinters
- Olympic athletes of Great Britain
- English Olympic medallists
- Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain
- Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain
- People from Blackheath, London
- Royal Artillery officers
- Olympic medalists in athletics (track and field)
