Tommy Godwin

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameThomas Charles "Tommy"•Godwin
Used nameTommy•Godwin
Born5 November 1920 in ?, Connecticut (USA)
Died3 November 2012 in Solihull, England (GBR)
AffiliationsRover Cycling Club
NOC Great Britain
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 2
Total 2

Biography

Born to British parents in the USA, Tommy Godwin spent the first eleven years of his life in Connecticut before the family returned to England in 1932. After trying a variety of sports his talents as a cyclist were discovered whilst he was as delivery boy for the Wrenson grocery chain. At 16 he took a job at the BSA cycle factory in Birmingham and would build his own his racing frames as his career progressed. Godwin was in contention for the 1940 Olympic team until the outbreak of war and although, as an electrician, he was spared Army service, his best years were probably lost to World War II. Chosen for the team pursuit at the 1948 Olympics, he was added to the entry list for the kilometer time trial as a late replacement for bitter rival Reg Harris. Godwin won bronze medals in both events and was a little unlucky not to fare better in the kilo. Racing in near darkness, he was tied for the lead after the penultimate lap but a strong headwind in the finishing straight saw him drop a second and a half off the winner’s pace. He collected another bronze medal at the British Empire Games in 1950 before becoming a professional rider and in the same year opened the cycle shop that he ran for the next 36 years. Tommy’s pro career was not as successful as it could have been and his father, who acted as his manager, was accused of mismanaging his son’s schedule. Toomy took up coaching and was British team manager at the Tokyo Olympics as well as being personal coach to Olympic medalist Mick Bennett and World Amateur Road Race champion Graham Webb. Both Bennett and Webb were employed in Godwin’s shop during their amateur careers.

Godwin later served as President of the British Cycling Federation and at the age of 89 was still fit enough to ride several laps of the Herne Hill Velodrome where he won his Olympic medals over 60 years previously. He was an official ambassador for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Cycling Track (Cycling) GBR Tommy Godwin
1,000 metres Time Trial, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Team Pursuit, 4,000 metres, Men (Olympic) Great Britain 3 Bronze

Special Notes