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Norman Pritchard

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For the American poet, see Norman Pritchard (poet).

Norman Gilbert Pritchard
Portrait of Pritchard, The Sketch
(28 February 1900)
Personal information
Full nameNorman Gilbert Pritchard
NationalityBritish-Indian
Born(1875-06-23)23 June 1875
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died30 October 1929(1929-10-30) (aged 54)
Los Angeles, United States
EducationSt. Xavier's College, Calcutta
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)200 metre hurdles
200 metres
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing British Raj India
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1900 Paris 200 metres hurdles
Silver medal – second place 1900 Paris 200 metres

Norman Gilbert Pritchard (23 June 1875 – 30 October 1929), also known by his stage name Norman Trevor, was an Indian athlete and actor who became the first Indian and Asian-born athlete to win an Olympic medal when he won two silver medals in athletics at the 1900 Paris Olympics representing India. He won India's first medal at the Olympics in the 200 metres and the 200 metres hurdles.[1][2][3]

Biography

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Pritchard (right) with Earle Foxe and Florence Reed in The Black Panther's Cub (1921).

Norman Pritchard was born in Calcutta to George Petersen Pritchard and Helen Maynard Pritchard.[1] He studied at St. Xavier's 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.

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-yard dash and the 120 yards hurdles.[4] Pritchard finished second in the 120 yard hurdles event at the 1900 AAA Championships.[5][6]

Pritchard was the first Indian athlete to participate in the Olympic Games and was also the first to win an Olympic medal and also represent an Asian nation.[7] He won two silver medals at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, coming second in the 200 metres behind Walter Tewksbury of the United States and second in the 200 metres hurdles behind the legendary Alvin Kraenzlein, also of the United States. He reached the final of the 110 metres hurdles, but did not finish, and also participated in the 60 metres and 100 metres sprints, in which he failed to qualify for the finals.[8]

He served as Secretary of the Indian Football Association from 1900 to 1902. He moved permanently to Britain in 1905.[4]

He then moved to the United States to pursue a career in acting and became the first Olympian to act in silent Hollywood movies under the screen name, Norman Trevor.[9]

Nationality claim

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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. Some research by Olympic historians has shown that Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship in July 1900.[10] However, most of the British press in 1900 records his nation as being India[11][12] The IOC regards Pritchard as having competed for India, with his two medals being credited to India.[13]

Death

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He died in Los Angeles of a brain malady on 30 October 1929.[1]

Selected filmography

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "The story of a champion from the East". The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata). Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Norman Pritchard". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Chronology of Important Sports Events — West Bengal". wbsportsandyouth.gov.in. Kolkata: Government of West Bengal – Department of youth services and sports. 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Norman Pritchard – India's first Olympic medalist". sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  5. ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  6. ^ "The Amateur Athletic Association Championships". Sporting Life. 9 July 1900. Retrieved 30 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Norman Pritchard". Olympic.org. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Norman Pritchard". Olympedia.
  9. ^ Buchanan, Ian. "Who was Norman Pritchard?" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History (January 2000). International Society of Olympic Historians: 27–28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2018.
  10. ^ Wallechinsky, David (2000). The Complete Book of the Olympics. Aurum Press.
  11. ^ "The World's athletic meeting at Paris". Lancashire Evening Post. 17 July 1900. Retrieved 30 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Winner of the marathon". Boxing World and Mirror of Life. 25 July 1900. Retrieved 30 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Paris 1900 Athletics – Results & Videos". International Olympic Committee. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
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