Reunited two Canadian racquet greats, Gilbert Nunns and Jack Purcell
On my walk through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery and nearby Mount Hope Cemetery, both tucked into midtown Toronto, I found myself reunited—with two Canadian sporting greats: tennis champion and Davis Cup stalwart Gilbert Nunns, and badminton legend–turned–shoe designer Jack Purcell.
Nunns’ story begins far from these Toronto paths. Born in Leeds, England, he grew up in Canada and quickly distinguished himself on the courts. At the University of Toronto he became a dominant force, winning intramural singles and doubles titles. His success carried into provincial and national competition: he captured the singles title at the Ontario Championships multiple times and twice finished runner-up at the Canadian Championship. His talent and consistency earned him a place on Canada’s Davis Cup team, where he competed in 1927, 1933, and 1934—the last year serving not only as a player but as captain.
A snapshot of his competitive peak appears in a New York Times dispatch from June 30, 1928:
“MONTREAL, June 30 (Canadian Press).—Jack A. Wright of Montreal, Canadian singles champion and first-ranking player in the Dominion, defeated Gilbert Nunns, young Toronto star, in the final of the men’s singles in the provincial tennis championships here today by 6-2, 2-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.”
Gilbert Nunns, Tennis Canada and University of Toronto Halls of Fame inductee died in Toronto on July 16, 2001. He was 94.
1907-2001
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John “Jack” Purcell was born in Guelph, Ontario, and quickly rose to prominence as one of Canada’s finest badminton players. He dominated the sport through the late 1920s and early 1930s, winning five consecutive Ontario championships from 1927 to 1931 and capturing the Canadian National Badminton Championship in both 1929 and 1930. His crowning achievement came in 1933, when he was widely recognized as world champion, having defeated the leading Canadian, American, and British players of the era. Remarkably, although his world title was challenged repeatedly, Purcell never lost a match until his retirement in 1945. Five years later, the Canadian Press honoured him as Canada’s Outstanding Athlete of the 20th Century in the miscellaneous sports category—an extraordinary recognition for an athlete whose legacy would eventually extend from the badminton court to the design of the iconic Jack Purcell sneaker.
In 1935, Jack turned his technical eye toward footwear design and created a low-cut canvas court shoe that would become required wear on grass and clay tennis courts across the United States. In many ways, he was the Michael Jordan of his era—an athlete whose name became synonymous with a signature shoe. The design was both practical and iconic, and its legacy endured long after his playing days. In 1972, Converse purchased the trademark rights to the Jack Purcell line, which they continue to manufacture today under the umbrella of Nike.
