21 Facts About Duncan White

Major Deshamanya Duncan M White MBE, ED was a Sri Lankan sportsman.

Duncan White was the first Ceylonese athlete to win an Olympic medal, winning silver in the 400-metre hurdles at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England.

Duncan White was 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 200 metres in 2000.

Duncan White was educated at Trinity College, Kandy where he was awarded 'Trinity Lion' for athletics; however, this was withdrawn for disciplinary reasons.

Duncan White was selected to the college athletics team at the age of 16 in 1934.

Duncan White became the college athletics captain at the age of 18 in 1936.

Duncan White took part in 400-yard hurdles at the 1938 British Empire Games but could not deliver the expected performances after suffering a hamstring injury.

Duncan White was incredibly the only schoolboy to have picked in the Ceylonese contingent for the 1938 British Empire Games.

Duncan White became champion at national public schools championships, Ceylon championships and India-Ceylon championships.

Duncan White was chosen as the flag-bearer for the Dominion of Ceylon during the opening ceremony of the 1948 Summer Olympics.

Duncan White won silver in the 400-meter hurdles in the final on 31 July 1948, the first Olympic medal for Ceylon.

Duncan White competed in men's 200m event but was did not progress beyond first round.

Duncan White was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire and awarded the Helms World Trophy as the "Most Outstanding Athlete" in Asia.

Duncan White became the first Sri Lankan to win a gold medal in any sporting event after the independence of the Dominion of Ceylon.

In 1942, during World War II, Duncan White was commissioned as an officer in the Ceylon Light Infantry.

Duncan White later joined the Ceylon Volunteer Force, going on to become a Major and gaining the Efficiency Decoration.

Duncan White eventually settled in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, briefly returning to Nigeria as an advisor on sports activities.

Duncan White married Angela Siebel in 1952 and had six children: Maxine, Nita, Christopher, Dan, Marilyn and Fiona.

Duncan White's brother Freddie White was a Sri Lankan legendary field hockey player.

Duncan White died in 1998 in Nuneaton, despite having said that he intended to migrate with his family to Australia.

Duncan White 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.