John Wrighton
Encyclopedia
John Derek Wrighton MB, BS, FRCS (born March 10, 1933) in Ilford, Essex, is a retired track and field
athlete, who represented Great Britain
at the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome, Italy. He won two gold medals at the 1958 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden: in the men's individual 400 metres and in the 4x400 metres relay, alongside Edward Sampson, John MacIsaac, and John Salisbury. Known for both his pronounced lean when running and his erratic pacing, John Wrighton and John Salisbury marked the beginning of the renaissance of British quarter miling after the second World War.
From 1958, Wrighton served on a short-service commission with the Royal Navy
, achieving the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant, after which he was placed on the emergency list and retired in May, 1961. He then completed his medical training becoming FRCS in 1967 and made his home in Dorset where he worked for many years as a family doctor.
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete, who represented Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in Rome, Italy. He won two gold medals at the 1958 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden: in the men's individual 400 metres and in the 4x400 metres relay, alongside Edward Sampson, John MacIsaac, and John Salisbury. Known for both his pronounced lean when running and his erratic pacing, John Wrighton and John Salisbury marked the beginning of the renaissance of British quarter miling after the second World War.
From 1958, Wrighton served on a short-service commission with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, achieving the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant, after which he was placed on the emergency list and retired in May, 1961. He then completed his medical training becoming FRCS in 1967 and made his home in Dorset where he worked for many years as a family doctor.