Gwen Buck
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| Born | 1929 Richmond, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 13 February 2005 (aged 75) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country |  United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Paralympic athletics Paralympic swimming Para table tennis Paralympic lawn bowls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Gwen Buck BEM (1929–13 February 2005) was a British Paralympic athlete who competed in several sporting disciplines. She won gold medals in table tennis, lawn bowls, and swimming, and entered several athletics events across four Paralympic Games.[1]
Gwen Buck was born in Richmond, Surrey (now London), in 1929. She was going over a level crossing on her bicycle in 1943 when she was struck by a lorry. The accident left her with a broken back and a severed spine, and she would remain in St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey for several years. On transfer to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in 1946 she met Ludwig Guttmann who helped Buck learn to become independent as a wheelchair user. While there she developed a love for competitive sport, in particular table tennis, and she soon began competing in the Stoke Mandeville Games.[2]
Buck moved to Worcester to attend college and train as a drawing officer tracer. She returned to Richmond, finding employment with the Ministry of Works. She met future husband and fellow wheelchair user John while there, and they married in 1951. The couple retired to Stoke Mandeville and John died in 1981. She died on 13 February 2005.[2]
Alongside her own sporting accomplishments, Buck was always keen to encourage young people to participate. She was also consulted on the design of the Stoke Mandeville Stadium.[2]