Peter Radford
Encyclopedia
Peter Frank Radford is a former British
athlete, who competed at 100 & 200 metres (and 100 & 220 yards), broke world records, and won Olympic medals, despite being using a wheelchair by a serious kidney
illness as a child.
He took up competitive running at the age of 12, soon joining Birchfield Harriers
, where he was coached by Bill Marlow, and won the English Schools intermediate 100 yard title in 1955 and seniors 100 yards in 1957. He attended Tettenhall College
. At the age of 18 at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958, he came fourth at 100 yards, was a semi-finalist in the 220 yards, and won a sprint relay gold medal.
He competed in the 1958 European Championships where he won a Bronze medal in the 100 metres and a Silver medal as part of the British 4×100 metres relay team, and in September of the same year he equalled the European record
of 20.8 seconds for 200m in Paris. On 28 May 1960, he broke the world record for 220 yards with a time of 20.5 seconds, at the Staffordshire Championships in Wolverhampton. The time and record were also accepted for the 200 metre distance.
He represented Great Britain in the 100 & 200 metres at the 1960 Summer Olympics
held in Rome
, Italy
, where he won the bronze medal at 100 metres. He then teamed up with fellow British athletes David Jones, David Segal
and Nick Whitehead
to finish third in the 4×100 metre relay. He won a second Commonwealth relay gold in 1962, and represented Britain as a quarter-finalist at both 100m and 200m at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, albeit as a late selection. He was eliminated from the 100m in the second-round heats, but ran the first leg of the relay, which broke the UK record. following Tokyo, he retired from competition, due to a recurring knee ligament
problem. At that time, and for at least another two decades, he was the most successful sprinter in Birchfield Harriers' history.
For 12 years from 1965, he lived and worked in Canada and the USA.
He is a former Chairman of UK Athletics
and chairman (in 1993) and 'executive between chairman' (1994-7) of its predecessor, the British Athletics Federation,. He was founder professor of the chair of PE and sports science at Glasgow University, and is currently Professor of Sport at Brunel University.
Radford wrote a biography of the 19th century Scottish athlete Robert Barclay Allardice
, entitled The celebrated Captain Barclay: sport, money and fame in Regency Britain and published in 2001.
A photograph of him running against Italy, three months before the 1960 Olympics, is featured on the cover of the 2011/2012 BT
telephone directory
, The Phone Book, for Birmingham
North, which covers the home of Birchfield Harriers, Perry Barr Stadium
.
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...
athlete, who competed at 100 & 200 metres (and 100 & 220 yards), broke world records, and won Olympic medals, despite being using a wheelchair by a serious kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
illness as a child.
He took up competitive running at the age of 12, soon joining Birchfield Harriers
Birchfield Harriers
Birchfield Harriers is an athletics club, founded in 1877. Its home is at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, England.Named after the Birchfield district of Birmingham, their previous home , at nearby Perry Barr, was Alexander Sports Ground. It still carries their badge, a running stag, rendered in...
, where he was coached by Bill Marlow, and won the English Schools intermediate 100 yard title in 1955 and seniors 100 yards in 1957. He attended Tettenhall College
Tettenhall College
Tettenhall College is a mixed independent school located in the Wolverhampton suburb of Tettenhall.-History:The College was founded in 1863 by a group of prominent local businessmen and industrialists, most of who were associated with the Queen Street Congregational Church. Tettenhall Towers was...
. At the age of 18 at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958, he came fourth at 100 yards, was a semi-finalist in the 220 yards, and won a sprint relay gold medal.
He competed in the 1958 European Championships where he won a Bronze medal in the 100 metres and a Silver medal as part of the British 4×100 metres relay team, and in September of the same year he equalled the European record
European record progression 200 metres men
The following table shows the European record progression in the men's 200 metres, as ratified by the EAA- Hand Timing : Performance timed over 220 yards- Automatic Timing :...
of 20.8 seconds for 200m in Paris. On 28 May 1960, he broke the world record for 220 yards with a time of 20.5 seconds, at the Staffordshire Championships in Wolverhampton. The time and record were also accepted for the 200 metre distance.
He represented Great Britain in the 100 & 200 metres 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...
held in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he won the bronze medal at 100 metres. He then teamed up with fellow British athletes David Jones, David Segal
David Segal (athlete)
David Hugh Segal was a British athlete who competed in the sprints. He had best times of 9.5 seconds for the 100 yards and 21.0 seconds for the 220 yards...
and Nick Whitehead
Nick Whitehead
Nick Whitehead was a Welsh sprinter.- Team Olympic Bronze, Rome 1960 :...
to finish third in the 4×100 metre relay. He won a second Commonwealth relay gold in 1962, and represented Britain as a quarter-finalist at both 100m and 200m at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, albeit as a late selection. He was eliminated from the 100m in the second-round heats, but ran the first leg of the relay, which broke the UK record. following Tokyo, he retired from competition, due to a recurring knee ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
problem. At that time, and for at least another two decades, he was the most successful sprinter in Birchfield Harriers' history.
For 12 years from 1965, he lived and worked in Canada and the USA.
He is a former Chairman of UK Athletics
UK Athletics
UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as athletes, their development, and athletics officials....
and chairman (in 1993) and 'executive between chairman' (1994-7) of its predecessor, the British Athletics Federation,. He was founder professor of the chair of PE and sports science at Glasgow University, and is currently Professor of Sport at Brunel University.
Radford wrote a biography of the 19th century Scottish athlete Robert Barclay Allardice
Robert Barclay Allardice
Robert Barclay Allardice , the 6th Laird of Ury, generally known as Captain Barclay, was a notable Scottish walker of the early 19th century, known as the celebrated pedestrian. His most famous feat was the walking of in 1000 hours for 1000 guineas in 1809...
, entitled The celebrated Captain Barclay: sport, money and fame in Regency Britain and published in 2001.
A photograph of him running against Italy, three months before the 1960 Olympics, is featured on the cover of the 2011/2012 BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
telephone directory
Telephone directory
A telephone directory is a listing of telephone subscribers in a geographical area or subscribers to services provided by the organization that publishes the directory...
, The Phone Book, for Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
North, which covers the home of Birchfield Harriers, Perry Barr Stadium
Perry Barr Stadium
Perry Barr Stadium is a stadium and racetrack on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England....
.