Arthur Stanley WintODMBE (25 May 1920 – 19 October 1992) was a Jamaican
Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot during the
Second World War, sprinter, physician, and later High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Competing at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, whilst a medical student at
St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, he won two gold and two silver medals, becoming the first
Jamaican Olympic gold medalist.[2][3][4]
Biography
Arthur Wint, known as the Gentle Giant, was born in Plowden,
Manchester, Jamaica. While at Calabar High School, he ran sprints and did both the high jump and long jump. He later transferred to Excelsior High School, where he finished his secondary education. In 1937 he was the Jamaica Boy Athlete of the year, and the following year won a gold medal in the 800 metres at the
Central American Games in
Panama.[1] Saving the money for his flight to europe
In the 1948 London Games, Wint won Jamaica's first Olympic gold medal for the 400 metres (46.2 seconds), beating his team-mate
Herb McKenley. In the 800 metres he won silver, after
AmericanMal Whitfield's gold. Wint missed a probable third medal when he pulled a muscle in the 4 × 400 metres
relay final.[1]
In
Helsinki in 1952 he was part of the historic team setting the world record while capturing the gold in the 4 × 400 metres relay. He also won silver in the 800 metres, again coming second to Mal Whitfield.[1]
Wint ran his final race in 1953 at
Wembley Stadium, finished his internship, and graduated as a doctor. The following year he was made a
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by
Queen Elizabeth II in the
1954 New Year Honours.[6] In 1955 Wint returned to Jamaica, eventually settling in
Hanover as the only resident doctor in the parish. In 1973 he was awarded the Jamaica honour of the
Order of Distinction. He served as Jamaica's
High Commissioner to Britain and ambassador to Sweden and Denmark from 1974 to 1978. He was inducted in the Black Athlete's Hall of Fame in the US (1977), the Jamaica Sports Hall of Fame (1989) and the Central American & Caribbean Athletic Confederation Hall of Fame (2003).[1]
Death and legacy
Wint died on Heroes Day in
Linstead, aged 72.[1] His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including the
Jamaican Prime Minister.[7] In 2012, a Blue Heritage Plaque was unveiled at 22 Philbeach Gardens in Earls Court, London, where he lived while studying medicine.[8] At the same event, his daughter launched her book about him, titled The Longer Run.[8]