OLIMPIADI LONDRA 1948

In London they were also the first Olympics without their founder, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who died on September 2, 1937. Five years later his successor, Count De Baillet-Latour, also died of a broken heart. More than 4,300 records, representing 59 nations, participate in London. The English despite playing at home will go no further than three golds against the 56 of 1908, but this time it is their organizational ability that wins. The lion's share is the Americans who are unbeatable in athletics: in the decathlon they win the gold with Bob Mathias, a 17-year-old boy who had started practicing this specialty just four months before. He will still be the youngest Olympic champion in the history of men's athletics.

As had happened after the First World War, the aggressor countries (Germany and Japan) are not invited. The Soviet Union, Romania, Bulgaria and the newborn state of Israel are also absent, committed right away to defend themselves and wage war against the Arabs.

Italy, whose participation was put in doubt until the last one because of its past as Hitler's ally at the outbreak of the war, lands in London with 182 athletes. It will return with a loot of eight gold medals. In that Olympia the myth of the "settebello" is born with Cesare Rubini who will dominate the world water polo scene for a long time.