Walter Tewksbury facts for kids
Walter Tewksbury
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1876 Ashley, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | April 24, 1968 (aged 92) Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Walter Beardsley Tewksbury (born March 21, 1876 – died April 24, 1968) was an amazing American track and field athlete. He was a true star at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. There, he won five medals, including two gold medals!
Contents
Walter's Early Life and Training
Walter was born in Ashley, Pennsylvania. He decided to study to become a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania. He finished his degree in 1899.
Running for the University
While at the university, Walter was a key member of their track team. He won important titles in 1898 and 1899. These wins were for the 110-yard and 220-yard races at the IC4A championships.
Competing at the 1900 Olympics
After he graduated in 1899, Walter traveled to Paris, France. He was ready to compete in the Olympic Games. Walter entered five different running events. He faced tough competition, including another student from his own university, Alvin Kraenzlein.
The 100-Meter Race
In the 100-meter race, Walter showed his speed right away. He ran so fast in the semi-finals that he matched the world record! However, in the final race, he finished second. The gold medal went to Frank Jarvis.
The 60-Meter Sprint
The very next day, Walter competed again. He earned another second-place medal in the 60-meter sprint. This time, his university friend, Alvin Kraenzlein, took the gold.
The Unique 400-Meter Hurdles
Next, Walter entered the 400-meter hurdles race. This event was very different back then! It was likely new to American athletes. The hurdles were not like today's hurdles. They were actually like big telephone poles laid across the track! The very last hurdle was a water barrier, similar to what you see in a steeplechase race. Even with these unusual obstacles, Walter easily won the gold medal. He beat the local French favorite.
More Medals in Paris
In the 200-meter hurdles final, Walter won a bronze medal. Alvin Kraenzlein won that race too. A week later, the 200-meter race was held. Walter won his second individual Olympic gold medal in this event! He finished just ahead of Norman Pritchard from India.
Life After Sports
After his amazing Olympic success, Walter decided to stop competing in sports. He opened his own dental practice in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, in 1913. Walter Tewksbury passed away in Tunkhannock on April 24, 1968.
See also
In Spanish: John Tewksbury para niños
