Freddie Wolff

Frederick Ferdinand "Freddie" 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]

Freddie Wolff
Born(1910-10-13)13 October 1910
British Hong Kong
Died26 January 1988(1988-01-26) (aged 77)
Marylebone, London, U.K.
Alma materBeaumont College
OccupationAthlete
Known forGold Metal Olympian.
Spouse(s)Natalie Winefred Virginia Byrne
Children5
RelativesDaniel Wolff (great grandson)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
1936 Berlin4x400 m relay

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 1970-77 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] Sadly, 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]

References
  1. Chasing Gold. Getty Images. 2005. p. 176. ISBN 0-901662-02-X.
  2. Freddie Wolff Archived 4 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2015-01-23.
  3. The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry War Chronicle 1942-1944. Gale and Polden Limited. 1951. p. 382.
  4. Wolff's Guide to the London Metal Exchange (2nd ed.). Metal Bulletin Books Limited. 1980. p. 320. ISBN 0-900542-43-8.
  5. Perry, Alex (2 January 2015). "Wolff on hunt for family Olympic gold". ESPN. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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