Norman Pritchard Biography 
Norman Pritchard was an athlete from India of British descent. But he is always remembered as the first Indian athlete to participate in the Olympic Games and won two silver medals in 1900 Olympics in athletics. He won it for the events - Men's 200 metres and Men's 200 metre hurdles. Though not an Indian, he was born in Kolkatta and he represented India to win both the medals! He was the man who started medal hunt for India. He moved to Britain permanently in 1905.
Pritchard was born in Calcutta to George Petersen Pritchard and Helen Maynard Pritchard on 23 June 1877. He was also the first athlete from India and first athlete representing an Asian nation to win an Olympic medal. He came second behind Walter Tewksbury in the 200 metres and behind the legendary Alvin Kraenzlein in the 200 metres hurdles and both those athletes belong to US. Pritchard set a world record in the second heat of the 100 metres hurdles that was broken by Kraenzlein in the final.
He studied at Saint Xaviers College, Calcutta. He is credited with the first hat-trick in an open football tournament in India, for Saint Xavier's against Sovabazar in July 1897. He served as Secretary of the Indian Football Association from 1900 to 1902 and moved to England in 1905.
In 2005 the IAAF published the official track and field statistics and in the historical records section, Pritchard’s name was listed in 1900 Olympics participants under Britain’s name. Research by Olympic historians brought out the fact that Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship in June 1900. But International Olympics Committee regard that he participated representing India. Thus a misunderstanding resulted in crediting those two silver medals to India. Thus Norman Pritchard became the record holder as the first Indian participant to win medals for India. He won both the medals in athletics. Both his medals really have a lot of significance. India is a country with 120 million people. Yet still now, no Indian has been able to win an Olympic medal in athletics. So, though not born as Indian, this British athlete born in India has given us something for which Indian sports remember him always.
Published: N/A
Updated: October 09, 2013
