1930s: ‘MY GOD, HE’S DONE IT’ – OUR FIRST ATHLETICS GOLD MEDAL
- In 1932, Picton’s Lawrence (“Jumbo’) Jackson (OLY#31), of Ngai Tahu, and Blenheim’s Jack Macdonald (OLY#35), of Rangitane the first Maori athletes to compete at the Olympic Games. They were members of the New Zealand rowing eight.
- Compared to these days of specialisation, 1932 rowing silver medallists Fred (“Rangi”) Thompson (OLY#44) and Bob Stiles (OLY#42) were extremely busy in Los Angeles. Not only did they perform brilliantly in the pairs, but they were also required to row again in the New Zealand eight.
- Thompson and Stiles had one other distinction at Los Angeles - 1932 was the first time victory podiums were used for Olympic medal ceremonies so they were the first New Zealand Team members to take the podium.
- Distance runner Billy Savidan (OLY#40) had two heartbreaking near misses at the 1932 Olympic Games, finishing fourth in both the 5000m and 10,000m.
- Los Angeles 1932 rower George Cooke (OLY#25), went on to die from wounds sustained during the fighting in Crete - on 23rd May 1941 aged 35 years.
- New Zealand’s first athletics gold medal was won by Jack Lovelock (OLY#33) in the 1500m in Berlin in 1936, and in world record time. The commentary of the day reflected the excitement of the race: ‘My God, he’s done it! Jack! Come on! … He wins! He’s won!