We are immensely proud to learn that Old Bedfordian Ethan Vernon (2007-18), secured his inaugural Olympic medal at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday 7 August. Ethan was part of Team GB that clinched silver in a nail-biting Men’s Team Pursuit final. En route to the final, they broke the national record by a massive 3 seconds, and then went head-to-head with Australia – the favourites to win – in a gripping showdown for gold. Ethan led his team in what became an intense race that tested their endurance to the fullest.
This Olympic achievement not only cements Ethan’s legacy but also marks a historic moment for Great Britain – it is the nation’s 1000th medal across both Summer and Winter Games in modern times*. Additionally, this silver contributes to the school’s total count of thirteen Olympic medals and places Ethan among our esteemed list of Olympian OBs.
Remarkably, two other Old Bedfordians had triumphed at the Olympics exactly a century prior in Paris. Old Bedfordian Harold Abrahams (1908-13) captured gold in track and field’s most prestigious event, the 100-metre dash, clocking in at 10.6 seconds during the 1924 Games; his victory later inspired Chariots of Fire, a film released in 1981. Harold also earned silver as part of the 4x100m relay team.
In another event during those same games but across town on the River Seine, Old Bedfordian Jack Beresford (1913-17) emerged victorious in single sculls rowing. His illustrious career spanned five consecutive Olympics where he medalled each time, a feat surpassed only by Sir Steve Redgrave nearly a century later.
Hugh Maltby, Director of the school’s Old Bedfordians Club, told us, “Our whole school community is delighted for Ethan. The Men’s Team Pursuit is an incredibly demanding event, and so to see Ethan win an Olympic silver here is incredible. His success is testament to his dedication and hard work over so many years. He is an inspirational sportsman to young athletes at Bedford School and across the country, and we look forward to watching his continuing success on both track and road.”
*The modern Olympics era began in 1896.
