Manu Bhaker is making waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The talented shooter recently won her second bronze medal, becoming the only Indian besides Norman Pritchard to secure two Olympic medals in a single edition.
Pritchard achieved this remarkable feat at the 1900 Paris Olympics, where he won two silver medals in the 200-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash.
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But, who is Norman Pritchard? Was he an Indian?
Born in 1875 in Alipore, Kolkata, Norman Pritchard was a prominent figure in Indian athletics. He attended St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata and dominated the Bengal province’s 100-yard sprint title for seven consecutive years from 1894 to 1900, setting a meet record in the 1898-99 season. His athletic prowess extended to the 440 yards (¼ mile) run and the 120-yard hurdles. Pritchard also placed second in the 120-yard hurdles at the 1900 AAA Championships.
Pritchard made history as the first Indian athlete to compete in the Olympic Games and was the first to win Olympic medals and achieve the feat of winning two medals in a single Olympics. He reached the final of the 110-meter hurdles but did not finish and participated in the 60-meter and 100-meter sprints, failing to qualify for the finals.
Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Pritchard contributed to Indian sports administration, serving as the Secretary of the Indian Football Association from 1900 to 1902. He moved permanently to Britain in 1905.
However, Pritchard’s nationality has been a subject of controversy. Some British historians argue that Pritchard was British, citing his birth into a colonial family. Ian Buchanan, a British Olympic historian, has claimed that Pritchard was “undisputedly British,” despite his Indian birthplace. The New York Times referred to Pritchard as an “Englishman,” and records show he competed in the 1900 AAA Championships as a member of both London AC and Bengal Presidency AC, complicating the determination of his nationality.
Conversely, The Telegraph notes that The Field magazine described Pritchard as an “Indian champion.” It also highlights that, among the nations participating in the 1900 Paris Olympics, only a few had established National Olympic Committees, including neither India nor Great Britain.
Despite the debate, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) acknowledges Pritchard’s Indian heritage, strengthening India’s claim to the athlete. Manu Bhaker’s achievements in the 2024 Olympics serve as a testament to the ongoing legacy of Indian excellence in international sports.