Olympic Gold Medalist. A Trap Shooter, he captured top honors for England at the 1968 Mexico City Olympiad. Born John Robert Braithwaite to a Quaker family, he was educated at the Lancaster Friends School and at the University of Edinburgh from whence he earned his degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1947. A partner in a busy rural practice, he had scant opportunity to train for a demanding sport that requires finely-honed skills, though he did have some competitive success in Europe and over the years won the British Grand Prix five times. Only able to practice his shooting about twice a week, he nevertheless qualified for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and finished 7th. Four years later in Mexico City he captured Gold, one of only three English competitors to do so that year, and set what was then a record by breaking 198 out of 200 of the fast moving clay targets with his 12 gauge shotgun, an especially remarkable achievement considering that his two misses came in the first round. Dr. Braithwaite returned to his large and small animal practice, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and retired in 1986 following heart surgery. He lived out his in Lancaster and died of the effects of advanced age.
Olympic Gold Medalist. A Trap Shooter, he captured top honors for England at the 1968 Mexico City Olympiad. Born John Robert Braithwaite to a Quaker family, he was educated at the Lancaster Friends School and at the University of Edinburgh from whence he earned his degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1947. A partner in a busy rural practice, he had scant opportunity to train for a demanding sport that requires finely-honed skills, though he did have some competitive success in Europe and over the years won the British Grand Prix five times. Only able to practice his shooting about twice a week, he nevertheless qualified for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and finished 7th. Four years later in Mexico City he captured Gold, one of only three English competitors to do so that year, and set what was then a record by breaking 198 out of 200 of the fast moving clay targets with his 12 gauge shotgun, an especially remarkable achievement considering that his two misses came in the first round. Dr. Braithwaite returned to his large and small animal practice, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and retired in 1986 following heart surgery. He lived out his in Lancaster and died of the effects of advanced age.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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