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Tommy Godwin Tommy Godwin obituary
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The cyclist Tommy Godwin, who has died aged 91, was a double bronze medallist at the 1948 London Olympic Games and an ambassador for the event when it returned to the city this year.The cyclist Tommy Godwin, who has died aged 91, was a double bronze medallist at the 1948 London Olympic Games and an ambassador for the event when it returned to the city this year.
At the "austerity" Games three years after the end of the second world war, athletes were billeted with families or in barracks, and other nations donated food for the 4,000 competitors.At the "austerity" Games three years after the end of the second world war, athletes were billeted with families or in barracks, and other nations donated food for the 4,000 competitors.
The British cycling quartet had to make do in their preparation as well, dogged by disputes, walk-outs, late substitutions and poor qualifying performances at the Herne Hill velodrome in south London.The British cycling quartet had to make do in their preparation as well, dogged by disputes, walk-outs, late substitutions and poor qualifying performances at the Herne Hill velodrome in south London.
Godwin was selected to ride the 1,000m time trial at two days' notice, without having ridden one in training. "It was a bad night," he recalled, "pitch black."Godwin was selected to ride the 1,000m time trial at two days' notice, without having ridden one in training. "It was a bad night," he recalled, "pitch black."
Having won his medal, he was back at work at the cycle manufacturers BSA the following Monday. He recalled: "Somebody there said, 'Oh you won a medal,' and I said yes. He said, 'Well, the job we're doing today is so and so.' That was it." It was, as he underlined, a very different existence to that of today's lottery-funded full-time athletes.Having won his medal, he was back at work at the cycle manufacturers BSA the following Monday. He recalled: "Somebody there said, 'Oh you won a medal,' and I said yes. He said, 'Well, the job we're doing today is so and so.' That was it." It was, as he underlined, a very different existence to that of today's lottery-funded full-time athletes.
Godwin was born in Connecticut to parents who had migrated from the Midlands, and was approached by the Americans to ride for them in 1948, although he turned down the offer.Godwin was born in Connecticut to parents who had migrated from the Midlands, and was approached by the Americans to ride for them in 1948, although he turned down the offer.
His family had returned to the Midlands in 1932 when the Great Depression struck. Godwin's interest in cycling was sparked by the Dutchman Arie van Vliet's performance in the 1936 Games. He began racing shortly before the war, winning a Midlands Olympic trial event, but it was a string of track victories in 1944 and 1945 that led to his selection for the 1948 Games, confirmed only a week before his first event, the 4,000m team pursuit, where he raced with Dave Ricketts, Alan Geldard and Wilf Waters. "We were strictly amateurs, racing for watches and clocks, furniture, canteens of cutlery. We were not allowed to take money as prizes," Godwin told Cycling Weekly earlier this year.His family had returned to the Midlands in 1932 when the Great Depression struck. Godwin's interest in cycling was sparked by the Dutchman Arie van Vliet's performance in the 1936 Games. He began racing shortly before the war, winning a Midlands Olympic trial event, but it was a string of track victories in 1944 and 1945 that led to his selection for the 1948 Games, confirmed only a week before his first event, the 4,000m team pursuit, where he raced with Dave Ricketts, Alan Geldard and Wilf Waters. "We were strictly amateurs, racing for watches and clocks, furniture, canteens of cutlery. We were not allowed to take money as prizes," Godwin told Cycling Weekly earlier this year.
After his racing days were over, Godwin remained heavily involved with the sport. He became national cycling coach at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games – where he inspired another great British track cyclist, the four-times world pursuit champion Hugh Porter – and later president of the British Cycling Federation and the Solihull Cycling Club, although his influence crossed club boundaries.After his racing days were over, Godwin remained heavily involved with the sport. He became national cycling coach at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games – where he inspired another great British track cyclist, the four-times world pursuit champion Hugh Porter – and later president of the British Cycling Federation and the Solihull Cycling Club, although his influence crossed club boundaries.
He opened a cycle shop in King's Heath, Birmingham, and founded the Birmingham Road Cycling Club. Among his proteges was the British Olympic cyclist Mick Bennett, who worked at his shop building wheels, to whom he lent a bike and his crash hat from the 1948 Games, and who was coached by Godwin, emulating his mentor's brace of bronze medals in 1972 and 1976.He opened a cycle shop in King's Heath, Birmingham, and founded the Birmingham Road Cycling Club. Among his proteges was the British Olympic cyclist Mick Bennett, who worked at his shop building wheels, to whom he lent a bike and his crash hat from the 1948 Games, and who was coached by Godwin, emulating his mentor's brace of bronze medals in 1972 and 1976.
More recently, Godwin helped to launch the Herne Hill Velodrome Trust, the campaign group launched when the track came under threat of closure in 2010, and he was present when the resurfaced circuit was reopened this year with its future secure under a fresh long-term lease.More recently, Godwin helped to launch the Herne Hill Velodrome Trust, the campaign group launched when the track came under threat of closure in 2010, and he was present when the resurfaced circuit was reopened this year with its future secure under a fresh long-term lease.
After being selected as an Olympic torchbearer for his home town of Solihull, Godwin attended this year's Olympic opening ceremony in London and made a point of being present at the velodrome in the Olympic Park in August to watch Britain's cyclists continue his medal-winning legacy.After being selected as an Olympic torchbearer for his home town of Solihull, Godwin attended this year's Olympic opening ceremony in London and made a point of being present at the velodrome in the Olympic Park in August to watch Britain's cyclists continue his medal-winning legacy.
He will also be remembered by West Midlands cyclists for his appearances at more low-key events, such as local track leagues and road races, where his modesty, ready smile and wealth of anecdotes made a huge impression.He will also be remembered by West Midlands cyclists for his appearances at more low-key events, such as local track leagues and road races, where his modesty, ready smile and wealth of anecdotes made a huge impression.
His wife, Eileen, predeceased him. He is survived by a daughter, Kay.His wife, Eileen, predeceased him. He is survived by a daughter, Kay.
• Tommy Godwin, cyclist, born 5 November 1920; died 3 November 2012• Tommy Godwin, cyclist, born 5 November 1920; died 3 November 2012