British · Chiswick, London, England · Born 1 January 1899 · Died 1977-12-03British rower widely considered, alongside Steve Redgrave, the greatest oarsman his country has produced, who won a medal at five consecutive Olympic Games spanning the 1920s and 1930s, a record unmatched until Redgrave equaled it in 2000.
Jack Beresford was born Jack Beresford-Wiszniewski on 1 January 1899 in Chiswick, London, the son of Julius Beresford, a Polish-émigré furniture manufacturer who had himself won Olympic silver in rowing in 1912. Jack was educated at Bedford School, where he stroked the eight and captained rugby, before serving in the Liverpool Scottish Regiment during the First World War and being wounded in the leg in France in 1918, an injury that ended his rugby ambitions but not his rowing. Beresford's Olympic career began at the 1920 Antwerp Games, where he won silver in the single sculls, finishing a single second behind American Jack Kelly Sr. He returned to win his first Olympic gold in the single sculls at the 1924 Paris Games, defeating William Gilmore in the final. At the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics he won silver as part of the British eight, before adding a third medal - gold in the coxless fours - at the 1932 Los Angeles Games. Beresford's most celebrated triumph came at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, held under the watch of Adolf Hitler. At 37 years old and partnered with Dick Southwood in the double sculls, Beresford came from a length down to overtake the favored German crew in the final 200 meters, winning his third Olympic gold and fifth medal at his fifth consecutive Games - a result he later called 'the sweetest race I ever rowed.' The victory completed an unmatched British record: Beresford medaled at every Olympics he competed in across 16 years, a feat not equaled by any British oarsman until Steve Redgrave in 2000. Away from the Olympics, he won the Wingfield Sculls seven years running (1920-26) and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley four times. He was appointed CBE in 1960 and served as President of Thames Rowing Club until his death in 1977.
Winning a medal at five consecutive Olympic Games across 16 years, a British rowing record unmatched until Steve Redgrave equaled it in 2000
How They Played
Versatile and tactically astute oarsman equally effective in single sculls and sweep-oar boats, renowned for peaking at the biggest occasions late into his career
Lasting Impact
Widely regarded, alongside Steve Redgrave, as the greatest oarsman Britain has ever produced, whose sustained excellence across nearly two decades and three Olympic boat classes set the standard for British rowing longevity
Career Honours
- 3x Olympic Gold Medalist (1924, 1932, 1936)
- 5 Olympic medals across 5 consecutive Games - unmatched until Steve Redgrave (2000)
- 4x Diamond Challenge Sculls Champion at Henley
- 7x Consecutive Wingfield Sculls Champion (1920-26)
British Athletes