Before Manu Bhaker: Remembering Norman Pritchard, the first ‘Indian’ to win two medals in single Olympic games

Manu Bhaker made history as the first Indian athlete, post Independence, to win two medals in the same Olympic Games by securing a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh. Two days earlier, she had claimed India's first medal at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal.
Before that there was another ‘Indian’ who managed that task, even though the history records have a minor quibble over whether he qualified as British or Indian.What is not in dispute is that he won two silver medals at the Paris Games 1900, the same venue where Bhaker made history. He was also the first person to score a hat-trick in an official football match on Indian soil and also the first Olympian to become a star in ‘silent’ Hollywood. And he did it in Paris as well. Of course, pedantic folks could argue that Bhaker won her second medal in a mixed team event while Pritchard won his medals in individual events.
Pritchard’s nationality also remained a prickly affair. In 2000, British Olympic historian, the late Ian Buchanan, had claimed that the silver medals Pritchard won (in 200m and 200m hurdles) should be awarded to Great Britain. While it’s true that Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship, the International Olympic Committee credits India for the medals.

Norman Pritchard, born on June 23, 1875, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, holds a unique place in the annals of Olympic history. He was the first Indian and Asian-born athlete to win an Olympic medal, achieving this feat at the 1900 Paris Olympics. He was also the first person to score a hat-trick in a professional football game, a founding member of the Indian Football Association and later the first Olympian to participate in

Pritchard was the son of George Petersen Pritchard, an Englishman who managed a family business in India. He grew up in a well-to-do family, which provided him access to excellent education and opportunities in sports. His athletic talents were nurtured at St. Xavier's College in Calcutta, where he excelled in sprinting and hurdling, quickly gaining recognition in regional athletic meets. His speed and agility were unparalleled at the time, setting the stage for his future successes.
In 1900, Pritchard travelled to Paris to compete in the Summer Olympics, a groundbreaking moment as he became the first athlete from India to participate in the Olympics. He competed in the 200 meters, 200 meters hurdles, and 110 meters hurdles. His performance was outstanding; he won silver medals in both the 200 meters and 200 meters hurdles, marking the first time an athlete from India had won Olympic medals. In the 200 meters hurdles, Pritchard set a then Olympic record of 26.8 seconds in the semi-finals, and in the final, he clocked 26 seconds to win silver, behind USA’s Alvin Kraenzlein, who set a new Olympic record.

Beyond his Olympic feats, Pritchard also had a notable football career. He is credited with scoring the first hat-trick in an open football tournament in India while playing for St. Xavier's College against Sovabazar in July 1897. He served as the Secretary of the Indian Football Association from 1900 to 1902, contributing significantly to the development of the sport in India.

After his Olympic success, Pritchard moved to England and later to the United States, where he transitioned into a career in the entertainment industry. Even how he transitioned to Hollywood is a remarkable story.
In December 1906, during a dinner in London, Norman Pritchard was asked to recount the grandeur of the 1899 durbar in Delhi, held to welcome Lord Curzon as the Viceroy of India. His vivid and dramatic description was so compelling that Sir Charles Wyndham, a prominent figure in theatre, mistook him for an actor and invited him to play a minor role in "The Stronger Sex" at the Apollo Theatre in 1907.
Pritchard's performance was successful, prompting Sir Charles to encourage him to pursue acting seriously. Pritchard made his Broadway debut in the United States with "The Elder Son" at the Playhouse Theatre on September 15, 1914. In 1919, he played a significant role in a strike action at the Schubert Theater in Washington, leading a boycott as a member of the trade union, The Equity, to demand better wages for actors.
Adopting the stage name Norman Trevor, he found a niche in Hollywood as a character actor. He appeared in numerous films and Broadway productions, gaining moderate success. His Broadway debut came with "The Elder Son" at the Playhouse Theatre in 1914. He went on to act in 26 plays and 27 movies, making his big screen debut in silent movies with "After Dark" in 1915 and ending with "Tonight at Twelve," released in 1929, the year of his death.
Pritchard passed away on October 31, 1929, in Norwalk, California, under tragic circumstances. His obituary stated that he died of a "brain malady," and it is now speculated that he may have been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Despite his relatively early death, his legacy endures, particularly in India, where he is celebrated as a pioneer in athletics. His accomplishments paved the way for future generations of Indian athletes, inspiring them to compete on the world stage.