·      Wint’s different careers demonstrates he could be flexible and move with the times

The BBC is today remembering Jamaica’s first Olympic gold medallist,  Dr Arthur Wint, whose daughter, Dr Alison Wint described him as a life-long learner and an establishment rebel.

Wint was 28 when he won gold in the 400-metre dash at the 1948 London Olympics.

The BBC reports today that Dr. Wint said her father “always wanted to better himself, expand his mind and use that to better other people’s lives, that’s his legacy.”

Aside from running, Arthur Wint was also a World War Two pilot, surgeon and diplomat.

Allison Wint, who practices medicine as NHS  Bristol and is now approaching retirement wants people to remember her father’s achievements – not just on the athletics track but his life as a whole – during this year’s Black History Month in Britain.

Dr. Arthur Wint was High Commissioner to Jamaica in London from 1974-78. Known as the Gentle Giant, 6ft 5ins (1.95m) Wint was born in May 1920 in Jamaica.

Best known for equalling the world record of 46.2 seconds in the 400m

He is perhaps best known for equalling the world record of 46.2 seconds in the 400m final at Wembley Stadium.

As Jamaica did not gain full independence from Great Britain until 1962, when he collected his gold medal, the anthem that was played was ‘God Save the Queen’.

“In Jamaica he remains a national hero,” his daughter said adding that “streets are named after him and a statue stands proudly outside the national stadium. Allison Wint explained, noting that when her father won that historic gold, he had already seen active combat as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War Two.

She reminded that her father had volunteered to fight for Britain and flew spitfires alongside two of his brothers and many others, who have now been celebrated as Pilots of the Caribbean.

Arthur Wint’s hallmark she added “will always be that gold medal but the rest of his life – the fact that he had three or four different careers demonstrates, that he could be flexible and move with the times and take the opportunities that were presented to him.”

“People may no longer be familiar with his name, but in his time he was a household name. I am sure that he would love to be remembered,” Allison Wint remarked whilst recalling the many hilarious stories of the difficulty he had getting his 6ft 5in frame into the small cockpit of the planes.