Jack Wilson (rower)

Infobox Person
name = Jack Wilson


image_size =
caption =
birth_name = John Hyrne Tucker Wilson
birth_date = birth date|1914|9|17|df=yes
birth_place = Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
death_date = death date and age|1997|2|16|1914|9|17|df=yes
death_place =
death_cause =
resting_place =
resting_place_coordinates =
residence =
other_names =
known_for =
education =
employer =
occupation =
title =
salary =
networth =
height =
weight =
term =
predecessor =
successor =
party =
boards =
religion =
spouse =
partner =
children =
parents =
relatives =


nationality =
website =
footnotes =

John Hyrne Tucker Wilson, known as Jack Wilson (17 September 1914-16 February 1997) [ [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/jack-wilson-1.html : Sports Reference: Jack Wilson] ] , was a British rowing champion and Olympic gold medallist.

Jack Wilson was born in Bristol, Rhode Island to British parents, and was educated in Texas and Shrewsbury School, Shropshire, England before attending Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge [ [http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv5n2/JOHv5n2l.pdf : Journal of Olympic History, Volume 5 No.2] ] . While at Cambridge, he rowed in three successive Boat Races (1934-36) in which Cambridge defeated Oxford. During the 1935 and 1936 races, he rowed alongside Ran Laurie, who became his rowing partner after Cambridge and a life-long friend.

After graduating from University, Wilson took a post as a District Commissioner with the Sudan Political Service, missing an opportunity to participate alongside Laurie in Britain’s Eights boat at the 1936 Olympics. With Laurie joining the Sudan Political Service the following year, the two men joined forces in rowing and, while on leave from colonial service in 1938, won the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta [ [http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv5n2/JOHv5n2l.pdf : Journal of Olympic History, Volume 5 No.2] ] .

Both Wilson and Laurie returned to Sudan following their success, and continued to serve in the Sudan Political Service through the Second World War. In 1946, Wilson survived an attack by a local woman in Sudan who threw an assegai spear at him [ [http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv5n2/JOHv5n2l.pdf : Journal of Olympic History, Volume 5 No.2] ] .

In 1948 Wilson and Laurie returned to Henley and once again won the Silver Goblets, having had little training and no opportunity to row since their success in the event ten years earlier. This was followed later that year by an Olympic gold medal, once again rowing at Henley [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/1948-olympics-we-had-much-more-fun-and-a-greater-sense-of-achievement-than-modern-athletes-do-497866.html : Independent, 7 July 2005: 1948 Olympics: "We had much more fun and a greater sense of achievement than modern athletes do"] ] .

Wilson retired from colonial service in 1954 and worked for the British Steel Corporation. He died in 1997, aged 82 [ [http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv5n2/JOHv5n2l.pdf : Journal of Olympic History, Volume 5 No.2] ] .

References