Bevil Rudd

Bevil Rudd ( Bevil Gordon D'Urban Rudd, born October 5, 1894 in Kimberley, † February 2, 1948 ) was a South African athlete and Olympic champion.

Rudd was born into a family that had a strong connection to the family of De Beers, the largest diamond producers. He was an excellent student, student and athlete, and a scholarship to the University of Oxford was him safe. Rudd served in the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery.

In his athletic career was probably his most successful year in 1920. At the Olympic Games in Antwerp, he won the gold medal in the 400 -meter run, before the British Guy Butler and the Swede Nils Engdahl and the bronze medal in the 800 - meter dash, behind the British Albert Hill and the American Earl Eby. Finally, he won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 - meter relay, along with his teammates Henry Dafel, Clarence Oldfield and Jack Oosterlaak, behind the team from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and in front of the team of France.

Also in 1920, he was British champion over 440 and 880 yards and was voted the best athlete of the year. In 1921, he broke the existing world record for 440 yards.

After he completed his studies, went back to South Africa and worked as a sports journalist. In 1930 he took a job at the Daily Telegraph, and he returned to London. He remained in this position until after the end of World War II. Then he moved back to South Africa and died shortly afterwards at the age of 53 years.