Norman Pritchard

Who was Norman Pritchard?

Norman Gilbert Pritchard was an athlete from India who went on to star in Hollywood and Broadway. He was of British descent and moved to Britain permanently in 1905.

Pritchard was born in Calcutta to George Petersen Pritchard and Helen Maynard Pritchard.

Pritchard was the first Indian athlete to participate in the Olympic Games. He was also the first athlete from India and first athlete representing an Asian nation to win an Olympic medal.He won two silver medals in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. He came second in the 200 metres behind Walter Tewksbury of the United States and second in the 200 metres hurdles behind the legendary Alvin Kraenzlein of the United States. Pritchard set a world record in the second heat of the 100 metres hurdles which was bettered by Kraenzlein in the final. He reached the final of the 110 metres hurdles where he placed 5th, and participated in 60 metres and 100 metres sprint where he failed to qualify for the final.

In 2005 the IAAF published the official track and field statistics for the 2004 Summer Olympics. In the historical records section Pritchard was listed as having competed for Great Britain in 1900. Research by Olympic historians has shown that Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship in June 1900. The IOC still regard Pritchard as having competed for India and his two medals are credited to India.