
Jon Baddeley
Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine
This auction has ended. View lot details





Sold for £6,500 inc. premium
Our Sporting Memorabilia specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialist
Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine
Son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland, Abrahams (1899-1978) was educated at Bedford School and Repton College before going up to Cambridge in 1920. A keen sprinter and long jumper, he competed for the University and took part in the 1920 Olympiad, in the 100 and 200 metres as well as the 4 x 100 metres relay. Considered an outsider for the 1924 Games, he was taken under the wing of coach Sam Mussabini at the suggestion of fellow sprinter, Eric Liddell, and made outstanding progress, setting a new British long jump record before the Games which stood for 32 years. In the Olympiad at Paris Abrahams won the 100 metres in a time of 10.6 seconds, beating all the strongly fancied American contenders. He also gained a Silver Medal as part of the relay team. His exploits were later immortalised in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire.