Thomas Hampson

Who was Thomas Hampson?

Thomas "Tommy" Hampson was an English athlete, winner of the 800 metres at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Hampson, a native of Clapham, didn't take up running seriously until the last year of his studies at Oxford University. After completing his education, he became a teacher in 1930. That same year, he won the British AAA championships over 880 yd, a title he would also claim in 1931 and 1932.

Also a winner at the inaugural British Empire Games, Hampson was one of the world's leading runners in the 800 m and half-mile event. That made him one of the top favourites for the 800 m gold at the 1932 Olympics, held in Los Angeles. In the final, Hampson fought off Canadian Alex Wilson to break the tape in 1.49.7, a new world record and becoming the first ever man to run 800 metres in under 1 minutes and 50 seconds.

He added a second Olympic medal with the British 4 x 400 metres relay team, which came second to the United States. Hampson ended his sports career later that year. Several years later, he left his teaching job to become an educator in the Royal Air Force, a job he kept until after World War II.