Tom Parkin

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameTom•Parkin
Used nameTom•Parkin
Born18 January 1885 in Slaithwaite, England (GBR)
Died10 October 1917 in Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen (BEL)
AffiliationsLingard's Wood Bottom Gymnastics Club, Marsden (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Tom Parkin was one of the many Yorkshire gymnasts on the Great Britain team at the 1908 Olympics. He was captain of the Lingard’s Wood Bottom Gymnastics Club at Marsden, near Huddersfield. It was a short-lived club, being formed in 1902 and surviving just eight years, but they soon established a reputation in the local area of being invincible and their rope climbing team, of which Parkin was a member, was the best in the area. Individually, Parkin finished second in the high jump competition at the Huddersfield District Athletics and Gymnastics Championship in 1907.

Parkin was a wool mill weaver, and also part-time instructor at the Marsden Evening School. Sadly, World War I brought an end to his gymnastics career as he was killed in action in 1917 while serving as a private with the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. Parkin is buried in the Nine Elms British Cemetery at Poperinge, Belgium.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1908 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) GBR Tom Parkin
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Great Britain 8

Special Notes