About
With less than two years to get ready, the Games of 1908 were perhaps the best organised to date. A 68,000-capacity stadium was constructed at White City in West London to host the athletics, cycling and swimming competitions, whilst most other events took place around London.One of the sailing classes actually took place on the River Clyde. As had happened in the two previous games, the programme spanned several months, although the main events were held in July. For the first time athletes marched into the stadium by nationality at the opening ceremony. This heightened sense of patriotism was perhaps at the root of several disputes which somewhat marred the Games.
The "Halswelle Affair" in the men’s 400 metres, saw British runner Lieutenant Wyndham Halswelle impeded by one of his American rivals John Carpenter. When the judges disqualified Carpenter and ordered a re-run, the other two Americans promptly withdrew, leaving Halswelle to race to gold alone.
Unsurprisingly the host nation dominated the medal table, but in athletics it was the Americans who excelled again. Standing jumper Ray Ewry added a further two gold medals to his six from previous Games, and Melvin Sheppard claimed a hat-trick of middle-distance running titles. In the pool, Hungarian Zoltan von Hamay secured his ninth Olympic career medal and American Charles Daniels picked up a fourth individual gold – both records which are yet to be bettered. American swimmer John Taylor became the first black athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in the 4x100m medley relay, and Russia won its first title in the newly-introduced men’s figure skating. Yet the defining moment of the Games was undoubtedly the marathon, in which race leader Dorando Pietri of Italy collapsed five times in the final stadium lap, and met with a wave of public sympathy when he was disqualified after officials carried him across the finish line.Queen Alexandra presented him with a trophy by way of consolation and his name remains much better known than that of the winner John Hayes.
Team GB
London 1908 represents the first and only time that Britain have won more medals than any other nation. Swimmer Henry Taylor picked up an impressive three gold medals, and George Larner triumphed in two walking events. Elsewhere, British teams dominated sailing and rowing, winning four and three gold medals respectively, and there were notable victories in boxing, shooting, men’s football, and tennis.They even took gold in the Tug of War.