Medalists of the 1948 London Olympic Games look back
on their summer of victory.
SAMMY Lee, 91, U.S.
GOLD AND BRONZE, DIVING
I first had my Olympic dream at 12, when they held the
1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. My father and I were at a grocery store, and I
asked, “What are all the flags doing here?” He said, “We are having the Olympic
Games. That’s where they honor the greatest athletes in the world.” I said,
“Papa, someday I’m going to be an Olympic champ.”
Walking up the 10-meter platform, I thought to myself,
“I’ve waited 16 years for this moment. Am I going to win?” So I prayed to God
that I was most deserving of winning the Games.
DAVID BOND, 90, BRITAIN
GOLD, SAILING
During the war, I spent six years in Royal Air Force.
I think in general, the 1948 Olympics meant very little to most people. We were
too busy after the war to be worried about sport very much anyway.
Our team had about six weeks before the Olympics down
at Torquay and we went out sailing every day.
Winning gold was quite something. It was nice to stand
on the platform with lots of people cheering. We celebrated by going to a big
dance.
MICHAEL LAPAGE, 88, BRITAIN
SILVER, ROWING
I started rowing when I was 14. I joined the navy in
1942. In 1945 the war came to an end and I started rowing again.
In 1948 we were still on rations (配给供应): 4 oz. of red meat a week. But the United States had
all the meat they wanted. They were the favorites to win.
On the day of the final, we led the Americans at the
start, but their stronger staying power took them through to win. There were no
ribbons on the medals, so we just showed them round the family.
THOMAS GODWIN, 91, BRITAIN
BRONZE, CYCLING
At 14 I left school and got a job delivering groceries
on a bicycle, which excited my interest in cycling. When the war broke out, I
volunteered but was held back, so I continued riding.
After my team won our bronze medals, we went home just
round the corner and had a sit-down and a chat and a laugh. It was a different
world. Money was never, never thought about.
1. According to the passage, Sammy Lee ___________.
A.was 28 when
he attended the 1948 Olympics
B.never thought
he could win medals in diving
C.found that he
has a talent for sports at age 12
D.prepared for the
1948 Olympics for 16 years
2. Michael Lapage blamed his team’s loss of the gold
medal on their ___________.
A.weak will B.poor skill
C.poor
nutrition D.hurried
preparation
3. What did David Bond and Thomas Godwin have in
common?
A.They both
took part in a team event.
B.A lot of
money was awarded to them.
C.The 1948
Olympics meant little to them.
D.They both
served in the army during World War II.
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Long-lived
medalists B.The 1948
Olympics
C.Famous
athletes D.Great in 1948