Freddie Wolff
Frederick Ferdinand "Freddie" Wolff, CBE, TD (13 October 1910 – 26 January 1988) was a British athlete, winner of gold medal in 4 × 400 m relay at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[1]
Freddie Wolff | |
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Born | |
Died | 26 January 1988 77) Marylebone, London, U.K. | (aged
Alma mater | Beaumont College |
Occupation | Athlete |
Known for | Gold Metal Olympian. |
Spouse(s) | Natalie Winefred Virginia Byrne |
Children | 5 |
Relatives | Daniel Wolff (great grandson) |
Medal record | ||
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Men's athletics | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
Olympic Games | ||
![]() | 1936 Berlin | 4x400 m relay |
Early life
On 13 October 1910, Wolff was born in British Hong Kong, the eldest son of a family of four children. Wolff was a member of the Kowloon Cricket Club, where he won his first race in 1919.[2]
Wolff and his family returned to England. Wolff attended Shirley House Preparatory School and Beaumont College in Windsor, England.[2]
Career
Frederick Wolff won the British AAA in 440 yd (400 m) in 1933.
At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Wolff ran the opening leg in the British 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new European record of 3.09.0.
In 1929, Wolff joined the family firm Rudolf Wolff & Co. In the Second World War, Wolff served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was promoted to the rank of Captain.[3] Wolff rejoined Rudolf Wolff & Co. in 1946, and became a partner in 1951.
From 1970-77 Wolff became the Committee Chairman of the London Metal Exchange helping establishing the LME’s international reputation. He was made a CBE in 1975.[4]
Wolff was the chairman of the Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust.[5]
Personal life
Wolff married Natalie Winefred Virginia Byrne, the daughter of Ferdinand and Mary (née Keith) Byrne. Wolff had five children: Jennifer, John, Carolyn, Richard (twin) and Christine (twin).
On 26 January 1988, Wolff died in Marylebone, London, United Kingdom. He was 77.[2] Sadly, the British Olympic Association held a reception at the Buckingham Palace for all surviving British Olympic medalists on the day he died.[2]
In 2015, Wolff's great-grandson Daniel Wolff competed in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles. His disability was autism.[5]
References
- Chasing Gold. Getty Images. 2005. p. 176. ISBN 0-901662-02-X.
- Freddie Wolff Archived 4 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2015-01-23.
- The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry War Chronicle 1942-1944. Gale and Polden Limited. 1951. p. 382.
- Wolff's Guide to the London Metal Exchange (2nd ed.). Metal Bulletin Books Limited. 1980. p. 320. ISBN 0-900542-43-8.
- Perry, Alex (2 January 2015). "Wolff on hunt for family Olympic gold". ESPN. Retrieved 24 July 2015.