Helsinki 1952 -- Highlights

Zatopek the great

Emil Zatopek (CZE-athletics) produced one of the greatest performances in distance running history. He won the 5,000m, successfully defended his 10,000m title and then took his third gold medal in his first-ever marathon race to complete a triple which remains unique in Olympic history.

The right-handed shooter who won with his left hand

Karoly Takacs (HUN-shooting) won the gold medal and beat the world record by ten points, shooting with his left hand. A member of the Hungarian pistol shooting team in 1938, a defective grenade exploded in his right hand - his pistol hand - and shattered it completely. He then taught himself to shoot with his left hand.

Two successive titles in decathlon

Bob Mathias (USA-athletics) was the first person to win two successive Olympic decathlon titles. After a first gold medal in 1948 when, as a 17-year-old, he became the youngest-ever winner of an Olympic track and field event, he set the world record defending his title.