Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Weight 78 kg (172 lb) | Sport Race walking Name Ken Matthews | |
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Born 21 June 1934 (age 89) ( 1934-06-21 ) Birmingham, United Kingdom Club Royal Sutton Coldfield Walking Club Personal best(s) 42:35.6 (10 km, 1960)
1.28:15 (20 km, 1960) | ||
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Kenneth "Ken" Joseph Matthews, MBE (born 21 June 1934) is a retired race walker from England, who won the Olympic (1964) and European (1962) titles in the 20 km walk.
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Since 1957 Matthews worked as an electrician at a local power plant at Hams Hall near Sutton Coldfield and had to take a paid leave for competitions. In 1959, 1961, 1963 and 1964 he won the British titles in all three walking events. He took part in the 1960 Olympics, but failed to finish the 20 km race. He won it at the 1964 Games in a new Olympic record of 1.29:34. He was the only one of the four gold medallists from Great Britain who did not receive an MBE soon afterwards in recognition of his achievement. Following a public outcry, he was belatedly awarded an MBE in 1977.
Matthews also won the European title in 1962 and twice the Lugano Trophy (1961 and 1963).
In 2007, he was the guest of honour at Hawarden High School for the Year 11 Record Of Achievement. In 2011, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame.