Incredible Finish To The Marathon - London 1948 Olympics

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Watch the amazing finish to the men's marathon event at the London 1948 Olympic Games in these classic Olympic highlights.
The course of the marathon race for the London 1948 Olympic Games took a different approach to the one chosen for the London 1908 Olympics. While in 1908 the race went from the royal residence at Windsor Castle until the Olympic stadium in White City, this time, the race began and ended at Wembley stadium. Still, despite the changes, the excitement remained the same as seen during London's first Olympic experience.
Out of the forty-one racers who started the race, Etienne Gailly of Belgium was the first one to enter the stadium for the final lap. However -- as had happened in the 1908 Olympics with Dorando Pietri -- Gailly arrived visibly exhausted and near to collapse. Having learnt from Dorando's story 40 years earlier, no one intervened to avoid the Belgian runner's disqualification.
As soon as he reached the stadium, Argentinean athlete Delfo Cabrera - who had been following Gailly closely - took the lead of the marathon. Tom Richards from Great Britain was next to enter the stadium, overtake Etienne Gailly and attempt to challenge the leader, yet Cabrera remained strong to take gold. With the encouragement of the crowds, Gailly made it through the finish line in third, taking Olympic bronze in a superb effort.
Find more about the London 1948 Olympic Games: www.olympic.org/london-1948-su...
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[@MontgomeryMall]

Etienne Gailly ran with great determination and courage. A prisoner of war during WWII, he was also a soldier for free Belgium. He ran this race, his first marathon, with the intention of winning the gold and shaming the Germans (whom he hated as a country). However, he was not experienced enough at this distance to properly pace himself and thus ran out of gas in the final stretch at Wembley Stadium. In 1950, he volunteered to fight for the UN forces in South Korea during the Korean War. His future running prospects ended when his foot was injured by a fragmentation mine nearby.

[@Marcenuklear]

today I found this nice movie about the marathon of 1948. Delfo Cabrera was my professor on the high school and when I realized that he won once the marathon I asked him when it was.....he told me..."remember, the day of Saint Cayetano (August 7th) on 1948....."So, today is the 65th anniversary of that wonderful moment for the olympic games and for Argentina....

[@haroof]

1948 & this video is AMAZING quality. Makes me wonder what else is buried in national archives that we have yet to see.

[@mysteriousdoge1298]

Almost like if they had a time machine and went back in time to shoot it in HD

[@marguskiis7711]

35mm film

[@nancykiberenge5597]

Never seen such a race. I hope the third guy was rewarded

[@claybrewer3589]

This has to be one of the greatest videos I've seen. Truly amazing quality and really puts the viewer back in 1948

[@GodsplanUzoaga]

Every one who participates in a marathon and finishes is deserves to be honoured. That 3rd guy (No. 252) was a hero, he almost gave up but he kept pushing on; but i want you to know that the track official who inspired him to keep going when he gave up @ 3:30 was the one who actually gave him hope. This is a lesson never to give up on people who try, but keep encouraging them, even a little push goes a long way; and when they finally get there, you will be part of their success story.

[@Esperluet]

Delfo Cabrera (Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina) 2:34:51 Thomas Richards (GB) 2:35:07 Etienne Gailly (B) 2:35:33 Johannes Coleman (RSA) 2:36:06 Eusebio Guiñez (Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina) 2:36:36 Sidney Luyt (RSA) 2:38:11 Gustav Ostling (S) 2:38:40 John Systad (NW) 2:38:41 Armando Sensini (Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina) 2:39:30 Henning Larsen ( DK) 2:41:22

[@Stacie45]

Awesome, thank you. My lifetime best 2:37:16, 1986.

[@YouzTube99]

Wow! Well done you!

[@JJVProductionsJesper]

what a brilliant quality. Who ever restored it, has done amazing job.

[@yasminnabilah5301]

that music, that video quality just wow. thank you so much for this Olympics!

[@Klaus141986]

The narrator never said from where Cabrera was, he was from Argentina!!

[@francogonzalomirandamoreno6425]

Delfo sos un genio, crack!!! Una inspiracion. Aplausos al cielo

[@dvotzmusiccompilationsandc5647]

It's amazing how Olympic can get such clear footage from 1948

[@tropicalscot]

Cabrera: 2h34m51s Richards: 2h35m07s Gailly: 2h35m33s 30 mins or so longer than today's marathon record holders but still amazing times compared to your average marathon runner (typically 4 hours)

[@CarlosAlberto-fx5uj]

Grandes heróis olímpicos, em uma época que não se ganhava dinheiro.

[@Zlipknotfede]

Que gran participacion de Argentina en esa maraton, Cabrera 1° Guñez 5° Sensini 8°

[@catodiscismo]

recién me entero que no fué sino hasta beijing 2008 que un país pudo meter 3 entre los primero 10 del maratón (ethiopia en los puestos 3, 4 y 7)

[@g29er]

Cabrera had awesome form for back then.

[@ivansanders8459]

Great footage. Very brave runners as clearly none of them were fit enough for the race.

[@Stacie45]

Exactly what I was thinking, they just did not know how to train for an event like the marathon back then. I ran track at an NAIA school in the 1980's, and preparation for the marathon was pretty much standard 5K/10K training plus a weekly 20-miler for about 6 weeks during the two months prior to the race. Done deal, you handle it pretty easily. I am sure today's sub-2:10 runners do far more sophisticated training, but even a college-level runner in the 1980's was way ahead of the best in the world in 1948, as far as training was concerned.

[@rhysnichols8608]

One reason they were not that well trained is because they were only 3 years out of ww2, rationing restricted their diet, they were rebuilding their countries and had to have probably busy manual jobs. I'd be surprised if any of them were able to run more than 40 miles a week

[@MontgomeryMall]

Etienne Gailly (BEL) was a prisoner of war during WWII.

[@albicelosademessi730]

Delfo Cabrera ♥

[@gotham61]

I spend most of the time checking out the amazing cars on the side of the route.

[@josielpontocom]

Really a side show!

[@AlexFromPhoenix]

They didn't cool down after the run back then.

[@josebartoli9921]

Cabrera from Argentina wins it! (Narrator didn't even mention it. I wonder why)

[@josebartoli9921]

because the narrator is European and winner Cabrera from Argentina is South American. Get it?

[@verticalhorizon4633]

2 of these guys are still alive.

[@MontgomeryMall]

Etienne Gailly was killed in October, 1971 as a pedestrian who was hit by a car. Delfo Cabrera died in a car accident in Argentina in August, 1981. Tom Richards died at the age of 75 in January, 1985 in Great Britain.

[@Alex-pr6zv]

No, they're all gone. Life is short.

[@jeffwalker4482]

This video quality is brilliant, looks better than half of these worldstar ones

[@Juan87SL]

Delfo Cabrera, Gloria de la Argentina y del Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro. Una maratón lleva su nombre aquí en Boedo, Buenos Aires.

[@juanmartinezsalta]

Ninguna maratón (carrera de 42195 metros) lleva su nombre. En la ciudad de Buenos Aires hay una sola maratón.

[@strashoy4841]

Juan Carlos Martinez Eso es cierto. Es una carrera de 8km la que lleva su nombre. Una gran carrera con premios hasta el 10mo puesto de cada categoría.

[@estebanelverd3994]

@@juanmartinezsalta la q no lleva es tu nombre de no conocer y cipayo

[@caserospresente]

Gigantesco Delfo Cabrera!!!!!!!!!

[@MS-um9sb]

I can't believe this video's quality! Its amazing!

[@maximilianocecato1982]

Delfo Cabrera Olympic champion Argentina !!

[@Dalton1294]

The Belgin was lucky to finish with a bronze medal

[@johanprx7985]

What an amazing footage. Thanks for uploading!!!

[@lauracarrara3798]

Nuestro caballero andante!!...

[@alepiegrande]

Delfo para todo el mundo!!

[@tavinmcghee862]

how is there even that good of video quality from 1948?

[@barath4545]

Cameras of select events back then were actually quite good, but just were very rare as there was no real TV to show them on. But there were camera equipment to record it, even in color. A rich guy bought some of these cameras and as a hobby recorded many of the only color recordings we have (in damn good quality too) of 1950s racing like Le Mans and F1 for example. Search for A Gentlemans Motor Racing Diary on YT.

[@Esperluet]

Motion picture film vs VHS tape (disappearance of magnetism with time)

[@shizukamori6755]

Given the winning time and the overall appearance and condition of the runners, the level of competition wasn't very high back then. And also, many of the best long distance runners, for example the Kenyans, Ethiopians , and Asians, couldn't compete yet because they were still colonies...

[@ftsjr]

It must've been a difficult pill for Etienne Gailly to swallow. After 26 miles, he entered the stadium in the lead, but ended up with the bronze medal.

[@franklinalexanderColmenarez]

+ftsjr hahahhaa si debio ser un trago amargo pa ra etienne me lo imagino diciendo ohh que mal chiste jajaja

[@cbs70sfan49]

More importantly than winning or finishing 3rd, he survived after that self-imposed torrid pace in the heat. He was recovering in the hospital during the medal ceremony.

[@marjt711]

wow!! how things have changed!!! amazing to see the classic cars etc.. wow!!!!

[@matthumphreys185]

The winning time was 2:34:51.6

[@admiralaokiji7889]

Matt Humphreys damn people running 30 mins faster lmao

[@d0wnpour]

amazing vid

[@aritojuas]

Delfo Cabrera : Argentino !

[@marcioleonelmello4796]

Fantastic ettiene gailly hero maraton Race in 1948 olimpic games

[@jorgedoliszniak4923]

Los colores de la camiseta de el argentino Delfo Cabrera son celeste y blanco, como nuestra bandera y sin embargo en el vídeo, aparecen rojo y azul, colores imperialistas si los hay, la primera maratón posterior a la 2da. Guerra mundial fue ganada por un argentino.

[@nicolasevilzero]

CABRERA - CLUB ATLETICO SAN LORENZO DE ALMAGRO

[@rberka555]

Beautiful color

[@hananokuni2580]

I thought they did not have high quality color film in 1948, unless it was Technicolor.

[@josielpontocom]

There are many software today able to turn into HD very old and noisy movies. No wonder at allt!

[@yavorpetrov7333]

Look, we even have slow motion!!!! WOW

[@clappin6219]

Yavor Petrov editing

[@mistejuliowonderfull]

!!!Cuando se repetirá?

[@KerstenElizabeth]

Before they let the Kenyans compete

[@ugeematt5527]

***** Oh Dear, tragic but very hilarious comment.

[@kingwilson06ad]

The Kenyans have only won one gold at the Olympic marathon, in 2008, long after they were "allowed" to be part of this event. Suffice it to say that sole victory is the current Olympic record by the late Samuel Wanjiru. The Ethiopians top the list with 4 wins in 1960, 1964, 1968 and 2000.

[@LightSnowOvernight]

+kingwilson06ad very good point. Most people think the Kenyans have won many Olympic marathons. Not so

[@duncanmuchina2070]

+LightSnowOvernight Kenya has won every gold medal in the 3000M Steeplechase they have participated in since 1968. That's dominance!

[@bena3341]

Yea. I would bet on the Ethiopian any day.

[@angelencina4934]

vaaaaamoooo viejaaaa, gano mi ciudaddd

[@lawr66]

@Johnny C "Huh, those running forms looks terrible". The shoes in those days were terrible compared to today. I read Derek Clayton's book Running to the Top and he said they were terrible in his day too, offering no cushioning, merely separation from the physical pavement. The runners took a terrible beating compared to today.

[@TwinFairiesMusic]

that's right. Usain Bolts on their shoes maybe can't beat half of this men. Maybe.

[@freestyle9368]

Cabrera looked pretty good, actually. If you want to see impeccable form, look at Wilson Kipsang, current WR holder, who runs 30+ minutes faster than these guys.

[@trickygoose2]

***** Bolt would lose to most of these men regardless of shoes as he is a sprinter and they are long-distance runners!

[@hypnovia]

trickygoose2 bolt does a mile in 3:55

[@mitchellmclaughlin9503]

***** No he doesn't. Lol!

[@malaykoley28]

I heartly request you , please upload the video clips of India 1 - France 2 Football Match of London 1948 Olympic Games .

[@greenwolfegreen6028]

Remember, this was just 3 years after World War II.

[@angelencina4934]

recien me entero

[@angelencina4934]

al fin loco

[@cbs70sfan49]

Gutsiest of any Olympic marathon footage I've ever seen. I think, however, if the British runner who finished second hadn't constantly been looking over his shoulder and instead, forging ahead and picking up speed, he might have stood a better chance of challenging the Argentine runner.

[@duncanmuchina2070]

Someone help me understand....this is 1948. London.....Olympics happen after every 4 years and 1960 Olympics took place in Rome after only 2 years! Tokyo followed in 1964. Were rules changed?

[@francescaalbans2566]

I think this one was delayed because of World War Two

[@duncanmuchina2070]

Makes sense....

[@teddy9770]

I don't understand the problem. 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964,...They were perfectly in time.

[@rifham]

It was1948 not 1958?

[@ThomasFromTN]

Nope...the 1944 Olympics were cancelled because of WWII...but 1948 was the correct year - then '52, '56, '60...

[@58ripple]

Did they have colour Tv in 1948?

[@jeffsmith9351]

Yes but no. It was very expensive.

[@bugisami]

Those were the days when the Olympics were strictly for amateurs (professional were admitted from 1992), and much more interesting to watch. The specialists these days make the marathon boring. It's always some East African finishing as if he had just run 100 metres.

[@dainiusfigoras]

You always can watch ultras, there's a lot guys from Europe (actually haven't seen any East Africans there, not sure why).

[@bugisami]

Anomalous AP Back in those days, and all the way back to Ancient Greece, almost every sportsman was an amateur. Then big business dug their claws into the Olympics (and sport in general) and made it clinical and sterile.

[@AnomalousAppendages]

bugisami So what you're telling me is that it is unfair for normal people that athletes exist... because... You know... Because...

[@bugisami]

Anomalous AP I am not telling you that.

[@danielshamu8890]

Lame comment

[@rhysnichols8608]

You know when you have a dream and you try and run but you feel so held back like running through treacle? That’s what that Belgium felt like at the end I bet! Haha non of them were properly in shape for the marathon, probably because of the post war rationing diet and their manual jobs

[@MontgomeryMall]

Étienne Gailly was a Belgian who served as a paratrooper during World War II. 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. Both Etienne and his brother Pierre served during the Korean War as part of the Belgian United Nations Command. Pierre Gailly was killed in action, Etienne seriously wounded when he stepped on a trip-flare and wounded his foot. This ended his running ambitions thereafter.

[@rifham]

Pre-gatoraide

[@artisansportsman8950]

I wonder what times they were crossing the finish line in them days ?

[@jamesmariani984]

Some of them didn't seem to be in particularly olympic form. Of course it would take me 8 hours to do it, so who am I to judge?

[@Fennecfox10]

Huh, those running forms looks terrible. Why is everyone insisting on the 'perfect form' these days. Don't get me wrong I work on my form, but seeing theirs makes me wonder.

[@patscott8612]

Sad to say but even back then there were dopers. Nothing changes.

[@seanbonesjones]

They looked like they were going really slow for Olympic runners

[@Sporkonafork1]

Bones Jones bro it's a marathon lol

[@Joe18916]

Well what the Olympic runners nowadays do is like 5:00 per mile, and this was slower so I'd guess still 5:20 or 5:30

[@bakersteven3]

+Leana Jo M. I agree training techniques are far greater , but if memory serves correctly Paavo Nurmi and the Sweds *fartlek is a swedish word) used interval training in the 1920/30s. But obviously athletes are far better prepared these days..

[@zakioktaviano19]

damn 1948 slow mo

[@Thefoilingguy]

There's nothing GAY about a marathon mate, maybe you should give it a go then see if you think it is GAY! Everyones a legend behind a keyboard huh!

[@wernerschneider4460]

Notice something? No Africans yet. How times have changed....

[@AdrianDeVore]

African countries were mostly colonies of the British Empire in 1948.

[@mahadevmurmu8489]

Whaaat... No blacks.. Oh they were still facing racism at that time.. Apartheid was dominated in African continent