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Today would’ve been the first day of action in Tokyo. So for everyday of what would’ve been the games, I’m going to be telling you all about amazing black British Olympians who paved the way in this thread 
1. John ‘Jack’ London (1905-1966) Born in Guyana - 100m silver medalist from the 1928 Amsterdam games. First Black British athlete to win a medal at an Olympics.
2. Paul Marshall (1961-2009) Born in Ghana. 4x100m medley relay bronze in swimming
at the Moscow 1980 Olympics. First Black British swimmer to compete for Team GB.
at the Moscow 1980 Olympics. First Black British swimmer to compete for Team GB.
3. Sonia Lannaman b.1956 Born in Birmingham. 4x100m relay bronze at the Moscow 1980 Olympics. One of the fastest school girls ever. Her first Olympics was in 1972. She was also the 1978 Commonwealth 100m champion.
at the Moscow 1980 Olympics. One of the fastest school girls ever. Her first Olympics was in 1972. She was also the 1978 Commonwealth 100m champion.
4. Prince Adegboyega Folaranmi Adedoyin (MD) 
(1922-2014) Born in Nigeria.
Son of a local King. Competed in high jump and long jump at the London 1948 Olympics. Medicine graduate.
(1922-2014) Born in Nigeria. Son of a local King. Competed in high jump and long jump at the London 1948 Olympics. Medicine graduate.
5. McDonald Bailey (1920-2013) Born in Trinidad. A Bronze Medalist over 100m from the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. His first games were in London 1948.
He retired from athletics to become a journalist working for BBC at the Rome games of 1960. (Sounds familiar)
from the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. His first games were in London 1948. He retired from athletics to become a journalist working for BBC at the Rome games of 1960. (Sounds familiar)
6. Andrea Lynch b.1952 in Barbados.
Two-time Olympian Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976. 100m Olympic finalist being her best performance at an Olympic Games. Click for more about her wonderful kids coaching programmes http://andrealynchmbe.co.uk/coaching/
Two-time Olympian Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976. 100m Olympic finalist being her best performance at an Olympic Games. Click for more about her wonderful kids coaching programmes
http://andrealynchmbe.co.uk/coaching/
7. Daley Thompson. b.1958 in London. Two time Gold Olympic medalist in the Decathlon in 1980 and 1984. Arguably one the greatest British Olympians of all time. Happy Belated birthday @Daley_thompson
8. Percy Lewis. (1928-2019) Born in Trinidad. Competed for GB at the 1952 Helsinki games. Unsuccessful in his Olympic campaign - but had mixed fortunes throughout his amateur career. Like so many black Brits of his era - he came via the Armed Forces.
9. Tessa Sanderson. b. 1956 in Jamaica. A SIX time Olympian from 1976-1996. Winning Olympic gold in Javelin in 1984. Also three time commonwealth champion! 
10. Alan Tottoh (1944-2013) Born in Manchester. Earned his 1968 Olympic spot after winning the ABA welterweight British title that same year. Born to a Nigerian Father and English Mother. He became pro after the games then turned to coaching in Manchester.
11. Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill. b. 1986 in Sheffield. To be honest she needs no introduction 
but IMO she is THE Olympic gold medalist of our generation at London 2012. It’s the 8 year anniversary of Super Saturday today. Also three-time world champion. Retired in 2016.
but IMO she is THE Olympic gold medalist of our generation at London 2012. It’s the 8 year anniversary of Super Saturday today. Also three-time world champion. Retired in 2016.
12. Harry Edward. (1895-1973) Born in Germany. THE first Black British athlete to compete and win medals for Great Britain at the 1920 Games in Antwerp.
Bronze in the 100m and 200m. Also a prisoner of war. Great read here about his life https://www.amistadresearchcenter.org/post/2017/09/25/harry-edward-an-olympian-for-social-change
Bronze in the 100m and 200m. Also a prisoner of war. Great read here about his life https://www.amistadresearchcenter.org/post/2017/09/25/harry-edward-an-olympian-for-social-change
And thank you @OlympicStatman for pointing this out to me. As Jack London is so widely reported as the first in 1928. It’s so important facts are available for people to see to prevent erasure and misinformation. Harry Edward’s story is incredible.
As Jack London is so widely reported as the first in 1928. It’s so important facts are available for people to see to prevent erasure and misinformation. Harry Edward’s story is incredible.
