Remembering Tony Nash MBE 1936-2022
The BBSA is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Olympic gold medalist Tony Nash MBE.
Tony Nash died peacefully in his sleep on March 17th, a day before his 86thbirthday.
He piloted Great Britain to the country’s maiden Olympic bobsleigh gold medal in 1964, taking the sport’s ultimate prize alongside Lord Glentoran, Robin Dixon, in Innsbruck, Austria.
That result has remained the benchmark for all British bobsleigh athletes in the 58 years that have followed, with Sean Olsson and John Jackson coming closest to matching that feat with Olympic bronze medal winning performances in 1998 and 2014 respectively.
He is one of a select number Team GB athletes to have won gold at an Olympic Winter Games and one of only five men to have done so in the post-war era.
“Everyone at the BBSA offers our sincerest condolences to Tony’s family following the sad news of his passing,” said Joanna Poulton, Chair of the BBSA.
“Tony will always hold a special place in the sport of bobsleigh in this country and his achievements will continue to be remembered for many, many years to come.
“Hugely admired and respected throughout the world of bobsleigh, he was a pioneer who set the bar for all British bobsledders and he will remain someone to look up to as British bobsleigh athletes aim to emulate his achievements on the world stage.”
As well as winning the ultimate prize in the 2-man competition at his debut Olympic Games in 1964, Tony Nash also represented GB in the 4-man race, placing 12th with Robin Dixon, Guy Renwick and David Lewis.
He went on to compete at a second Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble where he finished fifth with Dixon in the 2-man event and equal seventh in the 4-man with Dixon, Renwick, and Robin Widdows.
World Championship gold followed a year after his Olympic success, as Nash claimed the continental crown with Dixon in St Moritz in 1965. No British men’s team has matched that achievement since, with Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke the only other British athletes to take the world title in the women’s event in 2009.
A brace of World Championship bronze medals also appear on his outstanding list of achievements - the first coming the year before Olympic glory at Igls in 1963 and the second in Cortina in 1966. He and Dixon share the rare honour of having a corner named after them at the home of sliding in St Moritz – a fitting recognition of his achievements.
The condolences of all at the BBSA go to his wife, Pam, and his children, James and Annabel.
