Kenneth Joseph Matthews, MBE (21 June 1934 – 2 June 2019)[1] was a British race walker, who won the Olympic (1964) and European (1962) titles in the 20 km walk.
From 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. Matthews was the British 2 miles walk champion in 1959, 1961,[2] 1962, 1963 and 1964. Additionally he was British 7 miles walk champion in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1964.[3][4]
He took part in the 1960 Olympics, but failed to finish the 20 km race. He won the same event 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 was not appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) soon afterwards in recognition of his achievement. Following a public outcry, he belatedly received the honours, for services to race walking, in the 1977 Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours.[5][6][7]
Matthews also won the European title in 1962[6] and twice the Lugano Trophy (1961 and 1963).[5]
In 2007, he was the guest of honour at Hawarden High School for the Year 11 Record Of Achievement.[citation needed] In 2011, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame.[8]
He died on 2 June 2019, aged 84. An inquest concluded in early January 2020 that his death was the result of an unknown allergic reaction.[9]
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European Athletics Championships champions in men's 20 kilometres race walk | |
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