Medalists of the 1948 London Olympic Games look back on their summer of victory.
Medalists
of
the
1948
London
Olympic
Games
look
back
on
their
summer
of
victory
.
SAMMY Lee, 91, U.S.
SAMMY
Lee
,
91
,
U.S
.
GOLD AND BRONZE, DIVING
GOLD
AND
BRONZE
,
DIVING
I first had my Olympic dream at 12, when they held the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles.
I
first
had
my
Olympic
dream
at
12
,
when
they
held
the
1932
Olympics
in
Los
Angeles
.
My father and I were at a grocery store, and I asked, "What are all the flags doing here?"
My
father
and
I
were
at
a
grocery
store
,
and
I
asked
,
``
What
are
all
the
flags
doing
here
?
''
He said, "We are having the Olympic Games.
He
said
,
``
We
are
having
the
Olympic
Games
.
That's where they honor the greatest athletes in the world."
That
's
where
they
honor
the
greatest
athletes
in
the
world
.
''
I said, "Papa, someday I'm going to be an Olympic champ."
I
said
,
``
Papa
,
someday
I
'm
going
to
be
an
Olympic
champ
.
''
Walking up the 10-meter platform, I thought to myself, "I've waited 16 years for this moment.
Walking
up
the
10-meter
platform
,
I
thought
to
myself
,
``
I
've
waited
16
years
for
this
moment
.
Am I going to win?"
Am
I
going
to
win
?
''
So I prayed to God that I was most deserving of winning the Games.
So
I
prayed
to
God
that
I
was
most
deserving
of
winning
the
Games
.
DAVID BOND, 90, BRITAIN
DAVID
BOND
,
90
,
BRITAIN
GOLD, SAILING
GOLD
,
SAILING
During the war, I spent six years in Royal Air Force.
During
the
war
,
I
spent
six
years
in
Royal
Air
Force
.
I think in general, the 1948 Olympics meant very little to most people.
I
think
in
general
,
the
1948
Olympics
meant
very
little
to
most
people
.
We were too busy after the war to be worried about sport very much anyway.
We
were
too
busy
after
the
war
to
be
worried
about
sport
very
much
anyway
.
Our team had about six weeks before the Olympics down at Torquay and we went out sailing every day.
Our
team
had
about
six
weeks
before
the
Olympics
down
at
Torquay
and
we
went
out
sailing
every
day
.
Winning gold was quite something.
Winning
gold
was
quite
something
.
It was nice to stand on the platform with lots of people cheering.
It
was
nice
to
stand
on
the
platform
with
lots
of
people
cheering
.
We celebrated by going to a big dance.
We
celebrated
by
going
to
a
big
dance
.
MICHAEL LAPAGE, 88, BRITAIN
MICHAEL
LAPAGE
,
88
,
BRITAIN
SILVER, ROWING
SILVER
,
ROWING
I started rowing when I was 14.
I
started
rowing
when
I
was
14
.
I joined the navy in 1942.
I
joined
the
navy
in
1942
.
In 1945 the war came to an end and I started rowing again.
In
1945
the
war
came
to
an
end
and
I
started
rowing
again
.
In 1948 we were still on rations: 4 oz.
In
1948
we
were
still
on
rations
:
4
oz
.
of red meat a week.
of
red
meat
a
week
.
But the United States had all the meat they wanted.
But
the
United
States
had
all
the
meat
they
wanted
.
They were the favorites to win.
They
were
the
favorites
to
win
.
On the day of the final, we led the Americans at the start, but their stronger staying power took them through to win.
On
the
day
of
the
final
,
we
led
the
Americans
at
the
start
,
but
their
stronger
staying
power
took
them
through
to
win
.
There were no ribbons on the medals, so we just showed them round the family.
There
were
no
ribbons
on
the
medals
,
so
we
just
showed
them
round
the
family
.
THOMAS GODWIN, 91, BRITAIN
THOMAS
GODWIN
,
91
,
BRITAIN
BRONZE, CYCLING
BRONZE
,
CYCLING
At 14 I left school and got a job delivering groceries on a bicycle, which excited my interest in cycling.
At
14
I
left
school
and
got
a
job
delivering
groceries
on
a
bicycle
,
which
excited
my
interest
in
cycling
.
When the war broke out, I volunteered but was held back, so I continued riding.
When
the
war
broke
out
,
I
volunteered
but
was
held
back
,
so
I
continued
riding
.
After my team won our bronze medals, we went home just round the corner and had a sit-down and a chat and a laugh.
After
my
team
won
our
bronze
medals
,
we
went
home
just
round
the
corner
and
had
a
sit-down
and
a
chat
and
a
laugh
.
It was a different world.
It
was
a
different
world
.
Money was never, never thought about.
Money
was
never
,
never
thought
about
.
Medalists of the 1948 London Olympic Games look back on their summer of victory.  SAMMY Lee, 91, U.S.  GOLD AND BRONZE, DIVING  I first had my Olympic dream at 12, when they held the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. My father and I were at a grocery store, and I asked, "What are all the flags doing here?" He said, "We are having the Olympic Games. That's where they honor the greatest athletes in the world." I said, "Papa, someday I'm going to be an Olympic champ."  Walking up the 10-meter platform, I thought to myself, "I've waited 16 years for this moment. Am I going to win?" So I prayed to God that I was most deserving of winning the Games.  DAVID BOND, 90, BRITAIN  GOLD, SAILING  During the war, I spent six years in Royal Air Force. I think in general, the 1948 Olympics meant very little to most people. We were too busy after the war to be worried about sport very much anyway.  Our team had about six weeks before the Olympics down at Torquay and we went out sailing every day.  Winning gold was quite something. It was nice to stand on the platform with lots of people cheering. We celebrated by going to a big dance.  MICHAEL LAPAGE, 88, BRITAIN  SILVER, ROWING  I started rowing when I was 14. I joined the navy in 1942. In 1945 the war came to an end and I started rowing again.  In 1948 we were still on rations: 4 oz. of red meat a week. But the United States had all the meat they wanted. They were the favorites to win.  On the day of the final, we led the Americans at the start, but their stronger staying power took them through to win. There were no ribbons on the medals, so we just showed them round the family.  THOMAS GODWIN, 91, BRITAIN  BRONZE, CYCLING  At 14 I left school and got a job delivering groceries on a bicycle, which excited my interest in cycling. When the war broke out, I volunteered but was held back, so I continued riding.  After my team won our bronze medals, we went home just round the corner and had a sit-down and a chat and a laugh. It was a different world. Money was never, never thought about.