Etienne Gailly

Etienne Gailly (November 26, 1922 - November 3, 1971) was a Belgian athlete who competed mainly in the Marathon.

Etienne Gailly was a Belgian who served as a paratrooper during WW2. Towards the end of the War, as he participated in the liberation of his home country in late 1944, Gailly was profoundly moved by the devastation to his home. He vowed that he would win an Olympic gold medal or drop trying.

He was a club runner, wearing the colors of London's Belgrave Harriers. After the war he continued running. His results after the war were moderately good but not threatening to the world leaders. In 1948 he was not rated as a serious contender for the Olympic marathon, held in London.

But, although he did not win the marathon, he became a hero.

In his first full marathon run, in very hot conditions Gailly took the race out hard. Inexperienced at this distance, and underestimating the dehydrating effect of the severe and unusual heat and humidity, he opened up a lead of over half a minute at the course midpoint. On two occasions he beat back challenges, first from Korean Choi and then the Argentinian Cabrera. For some time it looked as if a big surprise was in the making. It seemed Gailly's determination may win him the race, although by this point his lead was dwindling and his pace was slowing.

http://belgraveharriers.com/articles/etienne_gailly.htm

However, nearing the stadium and the finish, he suddenly and completely ran out of gas. As he faded, thanks to the heat and his own ambitious pacemaking in extremely tough conditions, Gailly was reeled in by Delfero Cabrera (ARG) and Tom Richards (GBR). Entering the stadium in the lead but stumbling with exhaustion, the crowd roaring encouragement, he was passed by Cabrera during the final lap. He fell and was then passed by Richards. The crowd gasped with horror and willed him to get up. The home straight was an almost unending nightmare for Gailly, moving like a zombie, but despite falling again, he dragged himself half-standing over the line. He finished third to a standing ovation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A5848554

Gailly was unable to attend the victory ceremony because his efforts put him in hospital.

Gailly contested the 1950 European Championship marathon but his subsequent career was cut short by an injury sustained during service in the Korean War.

http://marathoninfo.free.fr/jo/londres1948.htm

In an era of absurd financial contracts, widespread use of illegal ergogenic aids, systemic manipulation of sporting performance by teams, poor sportsmanship and other distasteful conduct, many athletes and viewers draw inspiration from Etienne Gailly. Here was a man whose tremendous performance exceeded the belief of the viewers and his fellow competitors, a man who committed himself to the utmost on the Olympic stage, who gambled all and didn't win the foot race, but won the race of the human spirit.

Etienne Gailly will be forever remembered by the viewers and readers as a true embodiment of the original, noble Olympic ethos.

The spirit of Etienne Gailly lives on in another, more recent, Olympic marathon bronze medallist - Vanderlei de Lima of Brasil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanderlei_de_Lima