Tommy Godwin (cyclist born 1920)

Thomas "Tommy" Godwin (born 5 November 1920 [ [http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=1370 Olympic Games official website] ] in Connecticut, USA) was an English track cyclist during the 1940s and 1950s, who later became a cycling coach, manager and administrator.

Godwin won two bronze medals, in the team pursuit (in a team with Robert Geldard, David Ricketts and Wilfrid Waters) and 1km individual time trial, at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London, and a further bronze medal in the 1km event at the 1950 British Empire Games.

From 1936 to 1950, Godwin worked for BSA. For 36 years from 1950 he ran a cycle shop in Silver Street in the Kings Heath district of Birmingham. [ [http://madeinbirmingham.org/godwin.htm Tommy Godwin Cycles ] ]

Godwin was manager of the British cycling team at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, and later president of the British Cycling Federation and of the Solihull Cycling Club. He ran the first British training camp in Majorca, Spain and the first track course at Lilleshall, founded the Birmingham RCC, was among the pioneers in training coaches, and trained and mentored a generation of British track riders, many of whom won national and international titles and medals.

His autobiography "It Wasn't That Easy: The Tommy Godwin Story" was published in 2007 by John Pinkerton Memorial Publishing Fund. [ [http://www.abcc.co.uk/Reviews/wasnt_easy.html Association of British Cycling Coaches - Home Page ] ]

Godwin is an ambassador for the Olympic Games' return to London in 2012.

References