John Rimmer (athlete)
Olympic medal record | ||
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Men's athletics | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
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1900 Paris | 4000 metres steeplechase |
Representing a ![]() | ||
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1900 Paris | 5000 metres team race |
John Thomas "Jack" Rimmer (27 April 1878 – 6 June 1962) was a British athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1900 Summer Olympics. Rimmer won the AAA Championships in 4 miles (6.4 km) in 1900. He was born in Birkdale, Merseyside.
At the Paris Olympics, Rimmer at first participated in the 1500 metres competition, where he finished between seventh and ninth place. On the next day, Rimmer won the gruelling 4000 m steeplechase, beating teammate Charles Bennett by one and half yards. Together with Bennett, Alfred Tysoe, Sidney Robinson and Stan Rowley, Rimmer won a second Olympic title in 5000 m team race, finishing second behind Bennett.
Rimmer joined the Liverpool City Police in 1901 and retired as sergeant 30 years later. He continued to run until he was well over the 50 years of age. He was also a president of the famous Sefton Harriers until his death.
John Rimmer died in Anfield, Liverpool, aged 84.
He was proclaimed the "Fastest White Guy in Europe in 1900" on 13 April 2009 as part of the Europe Athletic Association (EAA) awards.
He can be found in the 1980s edition of The Guinness Book Of Records.
References
- Use dmy dates from November 2012
- 1878 births
- 1962 deaths
- People from Ormskirk
- British male steeplechase runners
- English male steeplechase runners
- British male middle-distance runners
- English male middle-distance runners
- British male long-distance runners
- English male long-distance runners
- Olympic athletes of Great Britain
- Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain
- Olympic medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1900 Summer Olympics
- English Olympic medallists
- Medalists at the 1900 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)
- British athletics Olympic medallist stubs
- English athletics biography stubs