HARRY EDWARD BRITAIN'S FIRST BLACK OLYMPIC HERO

The British and French sprinters and their trainers circled Belgian officials in protest, gesticulating angrily towards the man at the far end of the cinder track with the starting pistol in his hand – the marksman they were accusing of making a false start that had resulted in America’s Charley Paddock unfairly winning the race. The arguing continued for hours before the losers’ objections were finally overruled.

The debacle was reported drily in : “HFV Edward... was left on his mark in the 100 metres final, owing to the misunderstanding of an order given by a marksman, and in the semi-final of the 200 metres pulled a muscle in the back of his thigh... he finished third in both races, but lost three yards at the start of the 100 and ran very lame in the