Medal record Walter Tewksbury Men's athletics Competitor for the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1900 Paris 200 metres Gold 1900 Paris 400 metre hurdles Silver 1900 Paris 60 metres Silver 1900 Paris 100 metres Bronze 1900 Paris 200 metre hurdles John Walter Beardsley Tewksbury (March 21, 1876-April 25, 1968) was an American track and field athlete. At the 1900 Summer Olympics, he won five medals, including two golds. Born in Ashley, Pennsylvania, Tewksbury studied for a dental degree at the University of Pennsylvania. Running for the university team, he won the IC4A titles in the 110 and 220 y in 1898 and 1899.

After graduating, he headed for Paris to compete in the Olympic Games. Tewksbury entered in 5 events, but had strong competition, among others from fellow Penn student Alvin Kraenzlein. In the 100 m, Tewksbury equalled the world record in the semi-finals, but placed second in the final to Frank Jarvis. The following day, he took another second place, behind Kraenzlein, in the 60 m, before entering the 400 m hurdles. Historical marker dedicated to Walter Tewksbury, erected by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission at the Tunkhannock Area High School track.

At the time, this event had probably never been contested in the United States, but Tewksbury easily beat the local favourite for the 400 m hurdles title. The event was quite different from present day, as the hurdles were actually telephone poles laid over the track, and the final hurdles was a water barrier (like in the steeplechase). In the final of the 200 m hurdles, he placed third (with Kraenzlein the winner). The final of the 200 m was held a week later; in that race Tewksbury won his second individual Olympic gold, finishing immediately ahead of Norman Pritchard of India.

He retired from sports to open a dental practice in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. He died there in 1968, at age 92. References Walter Tewksbury biography and Olympic results, from http://www.sports-reference.com/; retrieved 2010-01-07. v · d · eOlympic Champions in Men's 200 m 1900: Walter Tewksbury (USA)  · 1904: Archie Hahn (USA)  · 1908: Bobby Kerr (CAN)  · 1912: Ralph Craig (USA)  · 1920: Allen Woodring (USA)  · 1924: Jackson Scholz (USA)  · 1928: Percy Williams (CAN)  · 1932: Eddie Tolan (USA)  · 1936: Jesse Owens (USA)  · 1948: Mel Patton (USA)  · 1952: Andy Stanfield (USA)  · 1956: Bobby Joe Morrow (USA)  · 1960: Livio Berruti (ITA)  · 1964: Henry Carr (USA)  · 1968: Tommie Smith (USA)  · 1972: Valeri Borzov (URS)  · 1976: Don Quarrie (JAM)  · 1980: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  · 1984: Carl Lewis (USA)  · 1988: Joe DeLoach (USA)  · 1992: Michael Marsh (USA)  · 1996: Michael Johnson (USA)  · 2000: Konstantinos Kenteris (GRE)  · 2004: Shawn Crawford (USA)  · 2008: Usain Bolt (JAM) v · d · eOlympic Champions in Men's 400 m Hurdles

1900: Walter Tewksbury (USA)  • 1904: Harry Hillman (USA)  • 1908: Charles Bacon (USA)  • 1920: Frank Loomis (USA)  • 1924: Morgan Taylor (USA)  • 1928: David Burghley (GBR)  • 1932: Bob Tisdall (IRL)  • 1936: Glenn Hardin (USA)  • 1948: Roy Cochran (USA)  • 1952: Charles Moore (USA)  • 1956: Glenn Davis (USA)  • 1960: Glenn Davis (USA)  • 1964: Rex Cawley (USA)  • 1968: David Hemery (GBR)  • 1972: John Akii-Bua (UGA)  • 1976: Edwin Moses (USA)  • 1980: Volker Beck (GDR)  • 1984: Edwin Moses (USA)  • 1988: André Phillips (USA)  • 1992: Kevin Young (USA)  • 1996: Derrick Adkins (USA)  • 2000: Angelo Taylor (USA)  • 2004: Félix Sánchez (DOM)  • 2008: Angelo Taylor (USA) Persondata Name Tewksbury, John Alternative names Short description Date of birth 1876 Place of birth Date of death 1968 Place of death