Harold Abrahams: Difference between revisions
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Harold Abrahams died in [[London Borough of Enfield|Enfield]] on [[14 January]] [[1978]], aged 78 years. His funeral serves as the framing device for ''[[Chariots of Fire]]''. |
Harold Abrahams died in [[London Borough of Enfield|Enfield]] on [[14 January]] [[1978]], aged 78 years. His funeral serves as the framing device for ''[[Chariots of Fire]]''. |
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==Quotations== |
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*''"In 1948, reflecting on Abrahams' athleticism, Philip Noel-Baker, Britain's 1912 Olympic captain and a Nobel Prize winner, wrote, "I have always believed that Harold Abrahams was the only European sprinter who could have run with Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, and the other great sprinters from the U.S. He was in their class, not only because of natural gifts - his magnificent physique, his splendei racing temperament, his flair for the big occasion; but because he understood athletics, and had given more brainpower and more will power to the subject than any other runner of his day."'' - [[Philip Noel-Baker]], Britain's 1912 Olympic captain and a Nobel Prize winner, reflecting in [[1948]] on Abrahams' athleticism<ref>http://www.jewsinsports.org/olympics.asp?ID=511</ref> |
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==Reference== |
==Reference== |
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Revision as of 22:12, 5 March 2007
| Olympic medal record | ||
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| Men's athletics | ||
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1924 Paris | 100 metres |
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1924 Paris | 4x100 m relay |
Harold Maurice Abrahams (December 15, 1899 – January 14, 1978) was a Jewish British athlete. He was an Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metre dash, a feat depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.
Biography
Born in Bedford, he was the younger brother of another British athlete, the Olympic long jumper Sir Sidney Abrahams. He was educated at Repton School and then at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University.
A sprinter and long jumper since his youth, he continued to compete in sport while studying at Cambridge. He earned a place in the 1920 Olympic team. These games were no great success for Abrahams who was eliminated in the quarter-finals of both the 100m and 200m, and he finished twentieth in the long jump. As a part of the British relay team, he took fourth place in the 4 x 100 m.
After dominating the national long jump and sprint events, Abrahams was an outsider for the medals at the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France. With the encouragement of his brother, Abrahams employed coach Sam Mussabini - the first British athlete to do so[1]. For six months, Mussabini at Abrahams direction emphasized the 100-meter, with the 200-meter as secondary - through vigorous training, Abrahams perfected his start, stride, and form. One month before the 1924 Games, Abrahams set the English record in the long jump (24'2 1/2"), a record which stood for the next 32 years. The same day he ran the 100-meter in 9.6 seconds, but the time was not submitted as a record because the track was on a slight downhill[2].
Abrahams won the 100m, beating all the American favourites (including the 1920 Gold medal winner Charlie Paddock). In third place was Arthur Porritt, later Governor-General of New Zealand - who's name was changed to "Tom Watson" in Chariots of Fire. The Paris Olympics 100m dash took place at 7pm on 7 July, 1924 - Abrahams and Porritt dined together at 7pm on 7th July every year thereafter, until Abrahams' death. In the 200 metre race, he reached the final, in which he placed sixth and last. (Eric Liddell also ran the 200m and finished in third place). As an opening runner for the 4 x 100 m team, Abrahams won a second Olympic medal, a silver; Abrahams did not compete in the long jump.
A foot injury forced Abrahams to end his career the following year. He subsequently served as an athletics journalist for forty years, also commentating the sport for the BBC radio. He latterly served as the chairman for the Amateur Athletic Association
Harold Abrahams died in Enfield on 14 January 1978, aged 78 years. His funeral serves as the framing device for Chariots of Fire.
Quotations
- "In 1948, reflecting on Abrahams' athleticism, Philip Noel-Baker, Britain's 1912 Olympic captain and a Nobel Prize winner, wrote, "I have always believed that Harold Abrahams was the only European sprinter who could have run with Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, and the other great sprinters from the U.S. He was in their class, not only because of natural gifts - his magnificent physique, his splendei racing temperament, his flair for the big occasion; but because he understood athletics, and had given more brainpower and more will power to the subject than any other runner of his day." - Philip Noel-Baker, Britain's 1912 Olympic captain and a Nobel Prize winner, reflecting in 1948 on Abrahams' athleticism[3]
Reference
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