Thomas Hammond (athlete)


Thomas Edgar "Tommy" Hammond was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.

Life

Hammond was born on 18 June 1878 in Woburn, Bedfordshire. He was educated at Bedford Modern School. and then became a stockbroker at the London Stock Exchange.
In September 1908 he set a number of British records including the 24-hour when he covered 131 miles, 580 yards; his record stood at the time of his death in 1945. His time at 100 miles was 18-04:10.2.
In the 1908 Olympics in London he took part in the 10 mile walk event. Hammond set a number of records including London-to-Oxford, London-to-Brighton and back, London-to-Brighton, and Norwich-to-Ipswich.
Hammond was a founder member of the Brotherhood of Centurions and is remembered primarily for his prowess as a long distance race walker. In 1938 he was made President of Old Bedford Modernians' Club. He died in Haywards Heath, West Sussex on 18 December 1945.