| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 22 February 1921 Grimsby, England |
| Died | 30 October 2016(2016-10-30) (aged 95) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Long-distance running |
Jack Braughton (22 February 1921 – 30 October 2016)[1][2] was a British long-distance runner who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.[3] He was born in Grimsby.[4][5]
Braughton was born in February 1921 in Grimsby and attended Grimsby Technical College.[2] He ran for Cleethorpes Harriers and Grimsby Harriers, winning the Eastern-Counties Junior Cross-Country title in 1939.[2] Braughton was in the army in India, where he continued running, with the aim of competing at the Olympics.[2] He joined the Blackheath Harriers,[5] and later won multiple titles in Surrey in the three-mile event.[2]
Braughton worked on a building site,[6] and needed permission to take time off from work to compete at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.[7] He had to do so in his own time, and was not paid to take time off from work.[8] Braughton raced in the men's 5000 metres, finishing in eighth place in his heat.[9] As an amateur, he lost half a day's pay, and made his own way to Wembley Stadium using public transport.[10] Once at the stadium, he changed into his running gear, competed in the heat, and went home.[11]
After the Olympics, Braughton carried on with running.[12] In 1955, he finished in sixth place in his first ever marathon.[5] He continued to take part in running until he was 80 years old.[5] At the age of 90, he also did ballroom dancing four days a week.[5]
