Walter Tysall

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameWalter•Tysall
Used nameWalter•Tysall
Born3 April 1880 in Birmingham, England (GBR)
Died1955 in Ashton-on-Ribble, England (GBR)
Measurements157 cm / 54 kg
AffiliationsCity of Birmingham Gymnastics Club, Birmingham (GBR)
NOC Great Britain
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Having won the English National Gymnastics Championships in three successive years, 1906-08, Birmingham’s Walter Tysall went to the 1908 London Olympics as one of the favourites to win the individual all-round title. He had victory in his grasp, but had to settle for silver behind Italy’s Alberto Braglia. Tysall’s silver medal made him Britain’s most successful Olympic gymnast for more than 100 years, until Max Whitlock won gold in 2016. Tysall’s Olympic medal, which was made, appropriately, by the Birmingham firm of Vaughtons, was sold for £3,000 at auction in 2009.

Tysall, who was a gymnastics teacher by profession, also taught synchronised swimming to youngsters, despite being a non-swimmer himself. A life-long bachelor, Tysall was due to marry his fiancé, but she tragically died of tuberculosis shortly before they were due to get married.

Tysall applied to join the Royal Engineers in World War I, but was declined on medical grounds, with it being recorded that he was not likely to become an efficient soldier. Possibly the decision was made based on the fact that he stood just 1.59 metres and weighed a mere 54 kilos at the time.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1908 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) GBR Walter Tysall
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver