Walter Tewksbury American track and field athlete Date of Birth: 21.03.1876 Country: USA

Biography of John Tewksbury

John Tewksbury was an American athlete and Olympic medalist. He was born in Ashley, Pennsylvania, and spent his childhood in the coal mining lands of Wyoming County. Tewksbury grew up in a small but active town, where the lumber industry thrived and supplied materials to nearby factories. Coming from a middle-class family, Tewksbury had the opportunity to pursue a university education.

He attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1899 with a degree in dentistry. While at university, Tewksbury's athletic talents were quickly recognized by his coach, Mike Murphy. Although Tewksbury had little knowledge of running, Murphy saw his potential and believed he could become an exceptional sprinter. Tewksbury became a key athlete for the university's sports program and quickly gained recognition nationwide, surpassing other prominent universities such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and West Point.

After graduating, Tewksbury traveled to Paris to participate in the Olympic Games. Competing in five different events, Tewksbury faced strong competition, including his roommate and fellow student Alvin Kraenzlein. Despite the tough competition, Tewksbury's performance was impressive. He set a world record in the semifinals of the 100-meter race but finished second in the final. He also won a silver medal in the 60-meter race, again behind Kraenzlein. However, Tewksbury's victory in the 400-meter hurdle race surprised many, as he was primarily known as a sprinter.

Tewksbury's achievements, along with Kraenzlein's, brought great pride to their university. They won a total of nine medals between them, making them the most successful athletes of the 1900 Olympics. Tewksbury's record of five medals from a single Olympics remains unmatched to this day, with only Jesse Owens in 1936 and Carl Lewis in 1984 achieving the same feat.

After retiring from competitive sports, Tewksbury opened a dental practice in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, in 1913. His practice thrived until his retirement in 1948. Tewksbury lived in Tunkhannock until his death on April 24, 1968, at the age of 92. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving member of the 1900 Olympic team.

In 1996, John Tewksbury was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, along with his teammate Alvin Kraenzlein.