Raymond Christopher Middleton (9 August 1936 – 8 January 2023) was a British racewalker.Raymond Middleton . All-Athletics. Retrieved on 17 April 2016. He represented Great Britain at the 1964 Summer Olympics in the 50 kilometres race walk. He was also a six-time participant at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup between 1961 and 1973.IAAF World Race Walking Cup Taicang 2014 Facts & Figures. IAAF. Retrieved on 16 April 2016. He took silver medals at the 1963 IAAF World Race Walking Cup (behind István Havasi) and 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (behind Ron Wallwork).IAAF World Race Walking Cup. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 17 April 2016.Commonwealth Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 17 April 2016.
Biography Born in Marylebone, Middleton was a high jumper and half-miler at school. He joined Belgrave Harriers athletics club and began competing internationally for Great Britain in his twenties.Ray Middleton. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 17 April 2016. He competed at the European Athletics Championships on three occasions (1962, 1966, 1969) with his best placing at that competition being fifth (achieved in both 1966 and 1969).European Athletics Championships Zürich 2014 - STATISTICS HANDBOOK. European Athletics Association, pp. 377-384. Retrieved on 17 April 2016.
Nationally, he had much success at the Race Walking Association championships. He won the 50 km title in 1963 as well as being runner-up in 1965, 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1970. He placed in the top three on five occasions over the 20-mile championship distance.RWA Men's Race Walking Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 17 April 2016. He also was third in the 7-mile race at the 1962 AAA Championships.AAA Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 17 April 2016.
By trade, Middleton was a London Post Office worker and won the 1970 European Postal Road Walking Championships.
Middleton died of respiratory failure following an infection, on 8 January 2023, at the age of 86.
International competitions 1961IAAF World Race Walking CupLugano, Switzerland4th50 km walk4:39:241962European ChampionshipsBelgrade, Yugoslavia —50 km walk1963IAAF World Race Walking CupVarese, Italy2nd50 km walk4:17:151964Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan13th50 km walk4:25:49.21965IAAF World Race Walking CupPescara, Italy7th50 km walk4:19:141966British Empire and Commonwealth GamesKingston, Jamaica2nd20 mi walk2:45:19European ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary5th50 km walk4:23:01.01967IAAF World Race Walking CupBad Saarow, East Germany8th50 km walk4:29:231969European ChampionshipsAthens, Greece5th50 km walk4:27:00.01970IAAF World Race Walking CupEschborn, West Germany11th50 km walk4:19:581973IAAF World Race Walking CupLugano, Switzerland19th50 km walk4:22:25
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