Raymond Christopher Middleton (9 August 1936 – 8 January 2023) was a British racewalker.[1] 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.[2] 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).[3] [4]
Born in Marylebone, he joined Belgrave Harriers athletics club and began competing internationally for Great Britain in his twenties.[5] 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).[6]
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.[7] He also was third in the 7-mile race at the AAA Championships in 1962.[8]
Middleton died of respiratory failure following an infection, on 8 January 2023, at the age of 86.[9]
| 1961 | IAAF World Race Walking Cup | Lugano, Switzerland | 4th | 50 km walk | 4:39:24 | |
| 1962 | European Championships | Belgrade, Yugoslavia | — | 50 km walk | ||
| 1963 | IAAF World Race Walking Cup | Varese, Italy | bgcolor=silver | 2nd | 50 km walk | 4:17:15 |
| 1964 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 13th | 50 km walk | 4:25:49.2 | |
| 1965 | IAAF World Race Walking Cup | Pescara, Italy | 7th | 50 km walk | 4:19:14 | |
| 1966 | British Empire and Commonwealth Games | Kingston, Jamaica | bgcolor=silver | 2nd | 20 mi walk | 2:45:19 |
| European Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 5th | 50 km walk | 4:23:01.0 | ||
| 1967 | IAAF World Race Walking Cup | Bad Saarow, East Germany | 8th | 50 km walk | 4:29:23 | |
| 1969 | European Championships | Athens, Greece | 5th | 50 km walk | 4:27:00.0 | |
| 1970 | IAAF World Race Walking Cup | Eschborn, West Germany | 11th | 50 km walk | 4:19:58 | |
| 1973 | IAAF World Race Walking Cup | Lugano, Switzerland | 19th | 50 km walk | 4:22:25 |