Century up for Berlin Olympic Gold Medallist Godfrey Rampling
Last updated 19/05/2009 13:54:37
Gold Medallist Godfrey Rampling - second from right
Godfrey Rampling, Great Britain's oldest Olympian and last surviving gold medallist from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, is today (Thursday) celebrating his 100th birthday.
Rampling first competed for Great Britain at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where he anchored the 4 x 400 metres relay team to the silver medal, behind the hosts and favourites United States.
It was four years later in the same event that Rampling helped Britain to overcome their American rivals and claim the gold medal. Rampling ran a tremendous second leg, alongside teammates Fred Wolff, Bill Roberts and Arthur Brown.
Rampling was unsuccessful in his chase for individual honours in the 400m but he tasted individual glory over the same distance in the 1934 British Empire Games in London and at both the 1931 and 1934 British AAA Championships.
Rampling was born in Blackheath in South East London and became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Artillery attached to NATO, retiring in 1958 after 29 years service.
Rampling will celebrate his century at his care home in Hertfordshire on Saturday together with his family, including his daughter Charlotte Rampling, the acclaimed film actress.