Bevil Rudd
Encyclopedia
Bevil Gordon D'Urban Rudd (October 5, 1894 – February 2, 1948) was a South Africa
n athlete, the 1920 Olympic Champion
in the 400 m.
Rudd was born in Kimberley, into a family closely involved with the De Beers
diamond mining company. During his schooling at St Andrew's College
in Grahamstown
, he excelled both as a student and as an athlete, and he was granted a scholarship for Oxford University. Rudd served in the First World War
, and was awarded a Military Cross
for bravery.
As for his athletic career, 1920 was his most successful year. At the 1920 Olympics, held in Antwerp, Rudd won three medals, one of each color. In the 400 m, he won the gold medal, in a clear victory over Britain's Guy Butler
. He added a silver medal in the 4 x 400 m relay with the South African team, and finished third in the 800 m. In addition to his Olympic successes, Rudd became the British champion over 440 yd (402 m) and 880 yd (805 m), and was named best athlete of the year in Great Britain. In 1921, he broke the 440 yd (402 m) World Record.
Rudd completed his studies in England, and returned to South Africa, working as a sports journalist. In 1930, he became an editor for the Daily Telegraph, a position he held until after the Second World War. Shortly after his return to South Africa, he died there at age 53.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n athlete, the 1920 Olympic Champion
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in the 400 m.
Rudd was born in Kimberley, into a family closely involved with the De Beers
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
diamond mining company. During his schooling at St Andrew's College
St. Andrew's College (Grahamstown, South Africa)
St Andrew's College is a private senior school for boys located in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, one of the 23 elite, influential and prestigious Milner Schools. It offers boarding and day options for its pupils. The premium Anglican boarding school caters for 450 pupils from across the...
in Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
, he excelled both as a student and as an athlete, and he was granted a scholarship for Oxford University. Rudd served in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and was awarded a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for bravery.
As for his athletic career, 1920 was his most successful year. At the 1920 Olympics, held in Antwerp, Rudd won three medals, one of each color. In the 400 m, he won the gold medal, in a clear victory over Britain's Guy Butler
Guy Butler (athlete)
Guy Montagu Butler was a British athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 4x400 m relay at the 1920 Summer Olympics....
. He added a silver medal in the 4 x 400 m relay with the South African team, and finished third in the 800 m. In addition to his Olympic successes, Rudd became the British champion over 440 yd (402 m) and 880 yd (805 m), and was named best athlete of the year in Great Britain. In 1921, he broke the 440 yd (402 m) World Record.
Rudd completed his studies in England, and returned to South Africa, working as a sports journalist. In 1930, he became an editor for the Daily Telegraph, a position he held until after the Second World War. Shortly after his return to South Africa, he died there at age 53.