John Gatenby Hatfield was an English competitive swimmer and water polo player who represented Great Britain internationally.
20 Facts About Jack Hatfield
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Jack Hatfield won three medals at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, and competed in three other Olympic Games.
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In recognition of this and other contributions to the community, Jack Hatfield's son was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Middlesbrough in 2009.
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Jack Hatfield was born in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, in 1893.
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Jack Hatfield's father was the superintendent of Middlesbrough Baths, where James Hatfield did most of his training.
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Jack Hatfield was known to train in the River Tees, Smith's Dock, a flooded quarry in Great Ayton, and the boating lake in Albert Park.
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In 1912, Jack Hatfield was chosen for the Stockholm Olympic Games.
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Jack Hatfield returned home with two silver medals and a bronze to a hero's welcome.
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Jack Hatfield was greeted at Darlington Railway Station by a crowd of 20,000 people whilst a band played "Hail the Conquering Hero".
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Jack Hatfield became a gunner in the Royal Artillery and spent four years in the trenches in France, only to be brought back for the Army Navy Championship, which he won in 1915.
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Jack Hatfield took part in the European Games in Budapest in 1929 and was asked to captain the English team in the 1930 British Empire Games at the age of 37.
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Jack Hatfield finished fourth in the 1500 metres freestyle final.
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Jack Hatfield led Middlesbrough's water polo team to victory, and as England's centre forward, he played against every European country between 1920 and 1932.
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Jack Hatfield broke more local, national, international, and world records in swimming than any other man until the arrival of Johnny Weissmuller.
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Jack Hatfield ensured that he always had a large amount of stock that covered the needs of almost every athletic sport, and he could offer sound and expert advice in any of these areas.
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Jack Hatfield was closely connected with Middlesbrough Football Club all his life, and as a result, the shop supplied the club with all their sporting equipment.
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Jack Hatfield's was visited by scores of professional and amateur footballers over the years, and Hatfield counted the likes of Matt Busby and Brian Clough as personal friends.
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Jack Hatfield was made one of the eight Directors of Middlesbrough Football Club in 1952.
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Jack Hatfield was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1984.
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Jack Hatfield's medals were displayed in a fundraising exhibition at the Marton Country Club Hotel to raise money for the Olympic Appeal Fund.