View source for Duncan White

{{short description|Ceylonese athlete}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix = Major [[Deshamanya]]
| name = Duncan White
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Efficiency Decoration|ED]]
| image = Duncan white.jpg
| caption = 
| fullname = Duncan M. White<ref name=sports-reference>{{cite web|title=Duncan White|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wh/duncan-white-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417175038/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wh/duncan-white-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|publisher=sports-reference.com|access-date=6 October 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = 1 March 1918<ref name=sports-reference/>
| birth_place = Lathpandura, [[Kalutara]], [[Basnahira]], [[British Ceylon]]<ref name=sports-reference/>
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1998|7|3|1918|3|1}}<ref name=sports-reference/>
| death_place = [[Nuneaton]], [[Warwickshire]], [[England]]<ref name=sports-reference/>
| education = [[Trinity College, Kandy]]|<!-- Medal record -->
| show-medals = 
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{flag|Ceylon}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London]]|[[Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre hurdles|400-metre hurdles]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1950 British Empire Games|1950 Auckland]]|440-yard hurdles}}
| updated = 22 June 2015
{{Infobox military person
|embed=yes
|allegiance={{flagicon|Ceylon}} [[Ceylon]]
|branch=[[Ceylon Defence Force]],<br>[[Ceylon Army]]
|unit=[[Ceylon Light Infantry]]
}}
}}

Major [[Deshamanya]] '''Duncan M. White''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Efficiency Decoration|ED]] (1 March 1918 – 3 July 1998) was a [[Sri Lanka]]n sportsman.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.olympic.org/duncan-white|title=Duncan WHITE – Olympic Athletics {{!}} Sri Lanka|date=16 June 2016|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref> He was the first Ceylonese athlete to win an [[Olympic medal]], winning silver in the 400-metre [[hurdling|hurdles]] at the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]], England.<ref>{{Cite web|title=It is time to remember Duncan White|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/110220/Sports/spt10.html|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Duncan WHITE|url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/duncan-white|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Olympics.com}}</ref> He was also the second South Asian to have won an Olympic medal in [[track and field]] after [[Norman Pritchard]] of India, with the third being [[Susanthika Jayasinghe]], another Sri Lankan, who won a silver medal in the [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 metres in 2000]].<ref name=rw>{{cite news|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/dwhite.htm|title=White's silver in 1948 is still Lanka's best|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Rootsweb|date=25 August 2004|access-date=22 October 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905013302/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/dwhite.htm|archive-date=5 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=st>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/980705/sports2.html "Duncan White, the gentleman"], ''[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|The Sunday Times]]'', 5 July 1998.</ref>

==Early life==

White was born on 1 March 1918 in Lathpandura, near [[Kalutara]], in [[British Ceylon]], the second of four children of John Bernard White and Cecilia Hawk. He had three brothers, Frederick A., also an athlete, Stanley Leonard and Douglas Andrew (died 1960). He was educated at [[Trinity College (Kandy)|Trinity College, Kandy]] where he was awarded [[The Trinity Lion|'Trinity Lion']] for athletics; however, this was subsequently withdrawn for disciplinary reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marikar|first=Hafiz|title=Duncan White remembered|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/07/20/sports/191639/duncan-white-remembered|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Daily News|language=en}}</ref> He left Trinity in 1937.<ref name=rw/>

==Sporting career==

He was selected to the college athletics team at the age of 16 in 1934. He became the college athletics captain at the age of 18 in 1936.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khaleel|first=Shaahid|date=2019-02-10|title=Duncan White, the first athlete to win an Olympic medal for Sri Lanka {{!}} Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem|url=https://www.trinitycollege.lk/2019/02/10/duncan-white-the-first-athlete-to-win-an-olympic-medal-for-sri-lanka/|access-date=2021-08-08|language=en-GB}}</ref> He took part in 400-yard hurdles at the [[1938 British Empire Games]] but could not deliver the expected performances after suffering a hamstring injury. He was incredibly the only schoolboy to have picked in the Ceylonese contingent for the [[1938 British Empire Games]]. He became champion at national public schools championships, Ceylon championships and India-Ceylon championships. He was chosen to represent Ceylon at the dual meet against India in 1945 (Indo-Ceylon Dual Athletic Meet) where he competed in the men's 4×100 yards relay event alongside [[Summa Navaratnam]], [[R. E. Kitto]] and [[Basil Henricus]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Going great guns at 90|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2015/05/17/spo10.asp|access-date=8 August 2021|website=archives.sundayobserver.lk}}</ref>

In 1948, he was selected for the [[Ceylon at the 1948 Summer Olympics|team that represented Ceylon at that year's Summer Olympics]] in London; the country had gained its independence from Britain that year. It was also historically Sri Lanka's first ever appearance at the Olympics. White was also chosen as the [[List of flag bearers for Sri Lanka at the Olympics|flag-bearer for the Dominion of Ceylon during the opening ceremony]] of the 1948 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-20|title=London exemplified 1948 Olympics in post-war austerity|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2021/05/28/sports/london-exemplified-1948-olympics-post-war-austerity|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}</ref>
During the 1948 Summer Olympics trials, he surprisingly withdrew from competing in men's 100m and 400m events, a decision which did not go too well with the sports officials and the authorities at the times.<ref name=":0" />

He won silver in the [[Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres hurdles|400-meter hurdles in the final]] on 31 July 1948, the first Olympic medal for Ceylon.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-31|title=WATCH : Exactly 73 years ago on July 31 Duncan White won Sri Lanka's first Olympic medal|url=https://www.newswire.lk/2021/07/31/watch-exactly-73-years-ago-on-july-31-duncan-white-won-sri-lankas-first-olympic-medal/|access-date=2021-08-08|website=NewsWire|language=en-US}}</ref> He had trained for only about 3&nbsp;months before the games while the gold medallist, [[Roy Cochran]] of the United States, had trained for about 4 years. Most importantly, White secured Sri Lanka's first ever Olympic medal in the county's debut appearance at the Games.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-17|title=Duncan White's Silver at London 1948 and his spectacular astounding hurdling|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2021/07/18/sports/duncan-white%E2%80%99s-silver-london-1948-and-his-spectacular-astounding-hurdling|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}</ref> His silver medal achievement came only two days after the opening ceremony of the Olympics.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-05-01|title=White who started the spark|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2020/05/03/sports/white-who-started-spark|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}</ref> White's time, 51.8 seconds, was only 0.7 seconds behind Cochran; both times bettered the existing Olympic record.<ref name="rw" />

He competed in [[Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|men's 200m event]] but was did not progress beyond first round.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-17|title=Athletics at the 1948 London Summer Games: Men's 200 metres {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1948/ATH/mens-200-metres.html|access-date=2021-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417174347/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1948/ATH/mens-200-metres.html |archive-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref>

After the Olympic victory, White was welcomed at a ceremony at Trinity College and was honoured with the return of his 'Lion'. In his speech at the special assembly, White said: "[A]lthough my victory at the Olympics is prestigious, the 'Lion' makes me feel more honoured than that", and received the 'Lion' with open arms. The [[Government of Sri Lanka|Government of Ceylon]] awarded him a scholarship to [[Loughborough University]], where he won the [[Inter-University Challenge Shield]]. He was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) and awarded the [[Helms World Trophy]] as the "Most Outstanding Athlete" in Asia.

In the [[1950 British Empire Games]] in [[Auckland]], New Zealand, White won the 440-yard hurdles, only 0.3 seconds behind the world record.<ref name="rw" /> He also became the first Sri Lankan to win a gold medal in any sporting event after the independence of the Dominion of Ceylon. He also teamed up with fellow prominent track and field athletes [[Summa Navaratnam]], [[John de Saram]] and [[Oscar Wijesinghe]] in the [[Athletics at the 1950 British Empire Games – Men's 4 × 110 yards relay|men's 4 × 110 yards event where Ceylon finished at fourth position]] during the 1950 British Empire Games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Athletics 4 x 110 Yard Relay - Men Auckland 1950 {{!}} Commonwealth Games Federation|url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3032/event/1465|access-date=8 August 2021|website=thecgf.com|language=en|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921103815/https://thecgf.com/results/games/3032/event/1465|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also missed  out on another bronze medal chance after placing fourth position in the [[Athletics at the 1950 British Empire Games – Men's 4 × 440 yards relay|men's 4 × 400 yards event]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Results|url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3032/event/1466|website=thecgf.com|accessdate=8 August 2021|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921111357/https://thecgf.com/results/games/3032/event/1466|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Military career==

In 1942, during [[World War II]], White was commissioned as an officer in the [[Ceylon Light Infantry]]. He was demobilised in 1947. He later joined the [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force|Ceylon Volunteer Force]], going on to become a Major and gaining the [[Efficiency Decoration]].<ref name=st/>

==Academic career==

After graduating from Loughborough, he returned to Ceylon in 1951 and was appointed the physical education lecturer at the teachers' college in [[Maharagama]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=There were no great accolades for Duncan our 1948 Olympic hero|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/080824/Plus/sundaytimesplus_20.html|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref> In 1958, the Department of Education appointed him coach of the Sri Lanka Schools Athletic Association. In 1963 he took up a post as lecturer at the [[University of Nigeria, Nsukka|University of Nigeria]] and went on to become a senior lecturer at the [[University of Ibadan]]. He eventually settled in [[Nuneaton]], Warwickshire, England, briefly returning to Nigeria as an advisor on sports activities.<ref name=st/>

The Duncan White Sports Foundation was founded on his 72nd birthday, 1 March 1990, and White presented the first award to [[Sriyantha Dissanayake]] on 1 March 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sunday Times Sports Section|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/990228/sports3.html|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
[[File:Duncan White memorial - Nuneaton, Warks.jpg|alt=A memorial headstone headed with the Olympic wings, featuring a crucifix and an angel, and reading "MAJOR DUNCAN WHITE M.B.E. A Beloved Husband, Dad and Grandad 1.3.1918 to 3.7.1998. ANGELA JEANNE WHITE (Nee SIEBEL) A Beloved Wife, Mum and Grandma 11.5.1931 to 10.1.2023. Loving You Always, Forgetting You Never. Together In Everlasting Peace."|thumb|White's memorial headstone in the churchyard at [[Our Lady of the Angels, Nuneaton]]]]
White married Angela Siebel in 1952 and had six children: Maxine, Nita, Christopher, Dan, Marilyn and Fiona.<ref name=st/> His brother [[Freddie White (field hockey)|Freddie White]] was a Sri Lankan legendary field hockey player.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Freddie White in tryst to visit his parents' graves|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/110102/Sports/spt08.html|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref> He died in 1998 in Nuneaton, despite having said that he intended to migrate with his family to [[Australia]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} His wife remained in Nuneaton.

== Honours ==

He was conferred with the prestigious [[Deshamanya]] award in 1998 by the then Sri Lankan President [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]] exactly on the 50th anniversary of his silver medal achievement which was accomplished on 31 July 1948.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weerasooriya|first=Sahan|title=Remembering the country's first Olympic medallist Duncan White|url=http://island.lk/remembering-the-countrys-first-olympic-medallist-duncan-white/|access-date=2021-08-08|language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Order of the British Empire|Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in 1949 
*Helms World Trophy
*Awarded the title [[Deshamanya]] by the Government of Sri Lanka in 1998
*Depicted on a Sri Lankan postage stamp in 1988

==See also==

*[[Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam]]
*[[Summa Navaratnam]]
*[[Sriyantha Dissanayake]]
*[[Susanthika Jayasinghe]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{World Athletics}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com}}

{{Authority control}}{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 400m Hurdles Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Duncan}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Kandy]]
[[Category:Burgher military personnel]]
[[Category:Burgher people]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1938 British Empire Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1950 British Empire Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Ceylonese Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Western Province, Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Ceylon Light Infantry officers]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force officers]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan men hurdlers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Deshamanya]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1950 British Empire Games]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Ibadan]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]