Robbie Brightwell

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Robbie Brightwell was born in India during 1939, as Robert Brightwell, the Brightwell family moved to England during 1946

He gained his athletic training at the then Loughborough College and went on to become a sportsmaster at a school in Surrey, England.

He was known for his quarter-mile running races, with his first major race taking place during 1961. He gained the British record for 440 yards as well as the European 400 metres.

During the Olympic Games held in Tokyo 10th to 24th October 1964, he was captain of the men's British Olympic Team. During his running event as the final running member of the relay team, he passed an athlete of Trinidad & Tobago to become second to a runner of USA who won the gold medal of the men's 4 x 400 relay. At the individual 400 metres he ran 4th place.

His fiancée at that time was Ann Packer who won a gold medal in the women's 800 metres (run) on the day after he won his silver medal. At these games she was a gold and silver medal winner

This captaincy and his silver medal was the climax of his career, aged 24 years early in 1964 he announced his retirement to commence at the end of these games.

On 19 December 1964 he married Miss Packer. Robbie and Ann are the parents of former Manchester City players Ian Brightwell and David Brightwell.