John Gatenby Hatfield (15 August 1893 – 30 March 1965) was an English competitive swimmer and water polo player who represented Great Britain internationally.

[1] Born in the town of Stokesley, North Yorkshire, he went on to found a sporting goods store in Middlesbrough, which remained open until August 2018.

He was also known to train in the River Tees, Smith's Dock, a flooded quarry in Great Ayton, and the boating lake in Albert Park.

Hatfield returned home with two silver medals and a bronze (won in the freestyle relay race) to a hero's welcome.

He was greeted at Darlington Railway Station by a crowd of 20,000 people whilst a band played "Hail the Conquering Hero".

Hatfield became a gunner in the Royal Artillery and spent four years in the trenches in France, only to be brought back for the Army Navy Championship, which he won in 1915.

Hatfield led Middlesbrough's water polo team to victory, and as England's centre forward, he played against every European country between 1920 and 1932.

Hatfield ensured that he always had a large amount of stock that covered the needs of almost every athletic sport, and he could offer sound and expert advice in any of these areas.

His achievements have also been honoured on a local level – Jack Hatfield Square was opened on Fry Street in Middlesbrough 15 years after his death.

His medals were also displayed in a fundraising exhibition at the Marton Country Club Hotel to raise money for the Olympic Appeal Fund.