Jean Hamilius

The son of Émile Hamilius, a footballer at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Jean Hamilius’ athletics career in Luxembourg was delayed by World War II. He was not idle during the war years, however, and played a role in the resistance against the German occupation, as well as the eventual liberation. After the conflict he studied economics at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management in Brussels, as well as at Cornell University, before returning to Luxembourg for military service. During that time, he gained a reputation as an able athlete and was eventually selected to represent his country at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. There, he was eliminated in the opening rounds of both the 400 metres and the 4x400 metres relay, in the latter alongside Roby Schaeffer, Fred Hammer, and Gérard Rasquin.

Also during that time, Hamilius became involved in politics and became much better known for his political life over his eventual career in finance. A member of Luxembourg’s center/center-right Democratic Party, his most notable positions were as the Ministers of Agriculture, and then Public Works, from 1974 through 1979, as well as his tenure as a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 through 1981. In this regard, he also followed in the footsteps of his father Émile, who was mayor of Luxembourg City from 1946 through 1963. In 2008 Jean became a Chevalier in the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Personal Best: 400 – 50.3 (1952).