Arthur Wint won Jamaica’s first ever gold medal at the 1948 Olympic Games, and triumphed again in 1952. Most impressively, Wint took part in both Olympic Games during his time as a medical student at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. He qualified in 1953, and went on to become High Commissioner of Jamaica where he was popular with both his fellow Jamaicans and the British public.
Arthur Wint was born in Plowden, Manchester, Jamaica on 25 May 1920. His running career began at school and, in 1937, he became Jamaica Champion Boy Athlete. The following year, Wint attended the Central American Games in Panama, where he won the gold medal in the 800 metres. He also won the bronze medal in the 400 metre hurdles.
In 1942, Wint joined the Royal Air Force and saw active service during the Second World War before starting his medical training at Barts. He competed in the 1948 London Olympic Games where, not only was he captain of the Jamaican team, but he also won gold in the 400 metres and equalled the then Olympic record time. An extremely tall man, Wint appeared to cover the ground without any effort. He also won silver in the 800 metres.
Wint returned to the Olympics in Helsinki in 1952. Again he won a gold and a silver medal. He triumphed with the rest of his team in the 4x400 metre relay and came second in the 800 metres. Wint also competed in the 400 metres, this time coming fifth.
After qualifying from Barts, Arthur Wint spent some time working in Britain before returning to his childhood home, Jamaica. There he worked in private practice until receiving an invitation to go back to London as Jamaica’s High Commissioner, a post he held from 1974 to 1978. In 1978 Wint went to Jamaica once more and assumed the running of Linstead General Hospital.
Arthur Wint died on 19 October 1972. Known as the ‘Gentle Giant’, his statue stands in front of the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. He is credited for helping to put Jamaica on the map through his accomplishments as an athlete and as a diplomat.