Tommy Hampson

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Tommy Hampson

| image = Tommy Hampson 1933 (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 160px

| alt =

| caption = Hampson in 1933

| birth_name = Thomas Hampson

| nationality = British (English)

| birth_date = {{birth date|1907|10|28|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date and age|1965|9|4|1907|10|28|df=y}}

| death_place = Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England

| sport = Athletics

| event = 400m/800m

| club = University of Oxford AC
Achilles Club

| resting_place = St Mary's Church, Stevenage

| monuments = Hampson Park, Stevenage

| height =

| weight =

| spouse = Edith Winnie Hampson

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country| {{GBR2}}}}

}}

Thomas Hampson (28 October 1907 – 4 September 1965) was an English athlete, winner of the 800 metres at the 1932 Summer Olympics and the first man to run 800 metres in under 1 minute 50 seconds.

Biography

Hampson, a native of Clapham (London), didn't take up running seriously until the last year of his studies at Oxford University. After completing his education, he became a teacher in 1930 (at St Albans School). That same year, he became the national 880 yards champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1930 AAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19300705/401/0015 |title=Marathon race won by Scotsman |work=Daily Herald |date=5 July 1930 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 January 2025 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19300707/257/0014 |title=Three new native records |work=Daily News (London) |date=7 July 1930 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 January 2025 }}

Also a winner at the inaugural British Empire Games,{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/hamilton-1930/athletes |title=Hamilton 1930 Team |website=Team England |access-date=10 January 2025 }} he retained his title at the 1931 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=9 January 2025 }}

Hampson was one of the world's leading runners in the 800 metres and half-mile event and won the 880 yards title again at the 1932 AAA Championships, as well as finishing second behind Crew Stoneley in the 440 yards.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000320/19320702/059/0006 |title=Amateur Athletics Championships |work=Gloucestershire Echo |date=2 July 1932 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=10 January 2025 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001034/19320703/283/0022 |title=Fast times in AAA Championships |work=Reynolds's Newspaper |date=3 July 1932 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=10 January 2025 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=10 January 2025 }}

Shortly afterwards he was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and was one of the favourites for the 800 metre gold. In the final, Hampson fought off Canadian Alex Wilson to break the tape in 1.49.7, a new world record.

He added a second Olympic medal with the British 4 × 400 metres relay team, which came second to the United States. Hampson ended his sports career later that year. Several years later, he left his teaching job to become an educator in the Royal Air Force, a job he kept until after World War II.

In 1954, Hampson moved to Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and joined the Stevenage Development Corporation as Social Relations Officer.{{cite web|url=http://www.stevenage.gov.uk/parks-and-open-spaces/parks/61072/61077/|title=Hampson Park History|publisher=Stevenage Borough Council|accessdate=31 July 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thecomet.net/news/stevenage_gold_olympian_runner_remembered_1_1468895|title=Stevenage Gold Olympian runner remembered|last=Young|first=Richard|work=The Comet|publisher=Archant Community Media|accessdate=31 July 2014}} He was a warden at the church of St Mary in the town, and after he died at the age of 57, he was buried there. Hampson Park in the town was later named after him.

References

External links

{{SR/Olympics profile|ha/tommy-hampson-1}}

{{succession box|before={{flagicon|FRA}} Sera Martin|title=Men's 800 metres World Record Holder
equalled by Ben Eastman (USA) on 1934-06-16|years=1932-08-02 – 1936-08-20|after={{flagicon|USA}} Glenn Cunningham}}

{{succession box|before={{flagicon|FRA}} Sera Martin|title=European Record Holder Men's 800m|years=2 August 1932 – 19 August 1938|after={{flagicon|GBR}} Sydney Wooderson}}

Category:1907 births

Category:1965 deaths

Category:People from Clapham

Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Lambeth

Category:English male middle-distance runners

Category:British male middle-distance runners

Category:English Olympic competitors

Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain

Category:Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain

Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain

Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)

Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)