Freddie Wolff |
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| Born | (1910-10-13)13 October 1910
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| Died | 26 January 1988(1988-01-26) (aged 77)
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| Alma mater | Beaumont College |
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| Occupation | Athlete |
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| Known for | Gold Metal Olympian. |
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| Spouse | Natalie Winefred Virginia Byrne |
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| Children | 5 |
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| Relatives | Daniel Wolff (great grandson) |
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Frederick Ferdinand Wolff, CBE, TD (13 October 1910 – 26 January 1988) was a British athlete, winner of gold medal in 4 × 400 m relay at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[1]
Early life
On 13 October 1910, Wolff was born in British Hong Kong, the eldest son of a family of four children.
Wolff was a member of the Kowloon Cricket Club, where he won his first race in 1919.[2]
Wolff and his family returned to England. Wolff attended Shirley House Preparatory School and Beaumont College in Windsor, England.[2]
Career
Frederick Wolff won the British AAA in 440 yd (400 m) in 1933.
At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Wolff ran the opening leg in the British 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new European record of 3.09.0.
In 1929, Wolff joined the family firm Rudolf Wolff & Co. In the Second World War, Wolff served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was promoted to the rank of captain.[3] Wolff rejoined Rudolf Wolff & Co. in 1946, and became a partner in 1951.
From 1970 to 1977 Wolff became the Committee Chairman of the London Metal Exchange helping establishing the LME's international reputation. He was made a CBE in 1975.[4]
Wolff was the chairman of the Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust.[5]
Personal life
Wolff married Natalie Winefred Virginia Byrne, the daughter of Ferdinand and Mary (née Keith) Byrne. Wolff had five children: Jennifer, John, Carolyn, Richard (twin) and Christine (twin).
On 26 January 1988, Wolff died in Marylebone, London, United Kingdom. He was 77.[2] The British Olympic Association held a reception at the Buckingham Palace for all surviving British Olympic medalists on the day he died.[2]
In 2015, Wolff's great-grandson Daniel Wolff competed in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles. His disability was autism.[5]
Great Britain
