Duncan White

Duncan White ( * March 1, 1918 in Lathpandura in Kalutara, Ceylon, † July 3, 1998 in Nuneaton, England ) was a Sri Lankan athlete. He won the silver medal in the 400 - meter hurdles at the 1948 Olympic Games.

White was born the second of four children in the British colony of Ceylon. He attended Trinity College in Kandy and there was already one of the best athletes.

On February 4, 1948 Ceylon became independent. End of July 1948 took Duncan White as one of seven athletes his country at the Olympic Games in London. After winning his heat in 53.6 seconds, he qualified in the semifinals with 52.1 seconds in third place just for the final. The American Roy Cochran won the final in 51.1 seconds, behind finished Duncan White in a personal best of 51.8 seconds for second place. 1949 White was honored with the Order of MBE. In the British Empire Games in 1950 in Auckland White won the hurdle race over 440 yards in 52.5 seconds. He also appeared as the final runners in two seasons and was fourth positions respectively.

Duncan White won the first Olympic medal for Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) half a year after independence, then went 52 years until Susanthika Jayasinghe in 2000 won the second Olympic medal for Sri Lanka ( bronze in the 200 -meter run ). Duncan White was married, the couple lived in England and had six children. In 1988, he was honored in Sri Lanka with a postage stamp.