John Ainsworth-Davis
John Creyghton Ainsworth-Davis (23 April 1895 – 3 January 1976) was a Welsh surgeon and sprint runner who won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
British relay team at the 1920 Olympics, Ainsworth-Davis is 2nd left | |||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
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Born | 23 April 1895 Aberystwyth, Wales | ||||||||||
Died | 3 January 1976 (aged 80) Stockland, Devon, England | ||||||||||
Alma mater | University of Cambridge | ||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||
Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||
Event(s) | 400 m | ||||||||||
Club | University of Cambridge | ||||||||||
Achievements and titles | |||||||||||
Personal best(s) | 400 m – 50.0e (1920)[1][2] | ||||||||||
Medal record
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Biography
Ainsworth-Davis studied at Westminster School. During World War I he first served as a captain with the Rifle Brigade and then as pilot in the Royal Flying Corps.
At the 1920 Summer Olympics Ainsworth-Davis ran the third leg for the British 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the event. He also competed in the individual 400 m, to replace Cecil Griffiths who fell ill, and finished fifth.[1][3]
After graduating from University of Cambridge Ainsworth-Davis studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital and played music at a nightclub to support his family. He could not make time for sport, and retired from competitions after placing fourth in the 440 yards at the 1921 AAA Championships. He became a respected urological surgeon and the Secretary of the Royal Society of Medicine. During World War II he was head of the surgical division of the RAF hospital at RAF Cosford.[1] Later he served as Secretary and President of the Hunterian Society (1958) and Secretary of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Ainsworth-Davis married Marguerite C. Wharry in 1920, with whom he had three children: Mary (1923), John Christopher (1924) (an actor/director/author who wrote under the pen name of Christopher Creighton and used the name John Ainsworth in the theatrical world),[4][5] and Jennifer (1930).
References
- John Ainsworth-Davis Archived 12 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
- John Ainsworth-Davis. trackfield.brinkster.net
- "Going for Gold: 1 Cambridgeshire's Olympians". Cambridgeshire County Council. 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0014732/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
- https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/books-the-spy-who-went-after-the-gold-1312223.html
Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Ainsworth-Davis. |
- Buchanan, Ian British Olympians. Guinness Publishing (1991) ISBN 0-85112-952-8