Dickie Burnell
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dickie" Desborough Burnell (July 26, 1917 – January 29, 1995) was an English
rower
who competed for Great Britain
in the 1948 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in Henley-on-Thames
and died in Wallingford. He was the son of Charles Burnell
and the son-in-law of Stanley Garton.
In 1948 he won the gold medal with his partner Bert Bushnell
in the double scull
s event.
He and his father Charles Burnell
are the only father and son in Olympic history to have won gold medals in rowing.
At the 1950 Empire Games he won the bronze medal as part of the English boat in the eights competition.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
.
He was born in Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
and died in Wallingford. He was the son of Charles Burnell
Charles Burnell
Charles Desborough Burnell OBE, DSO was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.Burnell was born at Beckenham, then in Kent. He was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford, and was a member of the winning Oxford crews in the Boat Races of 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898...
and the son-in-law of Stanley Garton.
In 1948 he won the gold medal with his partner Bert Bushnell
Bert Bushnell
Bertram "Bert" Harold Thomas Bushnell was a British rower who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics....
in the double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
s event.
He and his father Charles Burnell
Charles Burnell
Charles Desborough Burnell OBE, DSO was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.Burnell was born at Beckenham, then in Kent. He was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford, and was a member of the winning Oxford crews in the Boat Races of 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898...
are the only father and son in Olympic history to have won gold medals in rowing.
At the 1950 Empire Games he won the bronze medal as part of the English boat in the eights competition.