Harold Abrahams CBE (1898-1978), Great Amwell, Herts, UK - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Harold Maurice Abrahams was the Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metre sprint. This feat was captured in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire.

Harold was born in Bedford, and was the younger brother of the Olympic long jumper Sir Sidney Abrahams. Harold was educated at Bedford School, Repton School and then at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge from 1920 to 1924, before training as a lawyer. At Cambridge, he was a member of the Cambridge University Athletics Club and was President of the club in 1922-3.

Abraham earned a place in the 1920 Olympic team. He was eliminated in the quarter-finals of both the 100m and 200m, and he finished twentieth in the long jump. As a part of the British relay team, he took fourth place in the 4 x 100 m.

By the time of the 1924 Olympics in Paris Abrahams was still considered an outsider for the medals. However, Eric Liddell introduced Abrahams to a professional coach, Sam Mussabini, and Abrahams, with the encouragement of his brother, employed him. With the help of Mussabini, Abrahams perfected his start, stride, and form. One month before the 1924 Games, Abrahams set the English record in the long jump 24 feet 2½ inches (7.3787 m), a record which stood for the next 32 years.

In the 1924 Olympics Abrahams won the 100m in a time of 10.6 seconds. In the 200 metre race, he reached the final, in which he placed sixth and last. As an opening runner for the 4 x 100 m team, Abrahams won a second Olympic medal, a silver. Abrahams did not compete in the long jump.

In 1925, Abrahams broke his leg while long-jumping and his athletic career ended and he returned to his legal career. By 1928, he was made team captain of the British Olympic team at Amsterdam. Subsequently he worked as an athletics journalist for forty years, becoming a commentator on the sports for BBC radio. Later in his life, he also became the president of the Jewish Athletic Association and the chairman for the Amateur Athletic Association.

Abrahams authored a number of books, including The Olympic Games, 1896-1952 and The Rome Olympiad, 1960. He was the timekeeper for Roger Bannister's 4-minute mile.

Description: Olympic athletics medalist Date of birth: 12/15/1899 Date of death: 01/14/1978 Area of notoriety: Sports Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link] Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Not listed

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