John Clarke (Clarke & Dawe fame) in his book “Tinkering” writes that he interviewed Marjorie Jackson-Nelson in June 2011. In discussing the 1952 Helsinki Olympics Majorie stated that the Olympic Team flew to Helsinki and it took a week. They were advised to walk up and down the aisle, change seats and introduce themselves to other Olympic team members. Marjorie found herself sitting next to a cyclist from South Australia. They got on very well and by the time they reached London, he’d asked her to marry him. While team management counselled caution, they would not be swayed and were a match for life. During the interview, held at Marjorie’s daughter’s house they watched the 100M Helsinki race on You Tube (this video ) to confirm she had won by a good margin. After the interview Marjorie and her daughter also found and watched the 200M race which she also won by a good margin. Marjorie asked her daughter if she knew why she ran so fast. The answer- because your father (cyclist Peter Nelson) was watching in the stands. I wonder if that is Peter Nelson waving the Aussie flag at 2 min 48 sec
Nice. Even though the quality is not great, it's fantastic to see this clip again. From 'The Olympiad' circa 1976 I think. Jackson's winning margin in the 100m was not even bettered by Flo-Jo in 1988 (if memory serves).
You try it with the leather running shoes they wore then, on the track surfaces they had then. Also, Marjorie Jackson didn't have a lot of money, without sponsorship, and couldn't afford the best running shoes. She said her shoes were too big at the toe, and she had to stuff them with newspaper. Context is important before you make judgements.
This was in the days when the olympians also held full time jobs. Marjorie trained at night at the local park in Lithgow. The park had no lights so the towns people with cars used to drive to the park and turn on their car headlights. In the 1960s she did an ad for a washing machine. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics she was one of 8 Australian Olympic medals winners who carried the Olympic flag along with people like Murray Rose , Michael Wenden and Bill Roycroft. She was also Governor of South Australia.
Jackson was one of the greatest sprinters in history. Thanks for posting these performances.
John Clarke (Clarke & Dawe fame) in his book “Tinkering” writes that he interviewed Marjorie Jackson-Nelson in June 2011. In discussing the 1952
Helsinki Olympics Majorie stated that the Olympic Team flew to Helsinki and it took a week. They were advised to walk up and down the aisle, change seats and introduce themselves to
other Olympic team members.
Marjorie found herself sitting next to a cyclist from South Australia. They got on very well and by the time they reached London, he’d asked her to marry
him. While team management counselled caution, they would not be swayed and were a match for life.
During the interview, held at Marjorie’s daughter’s house they watched the 100M Helsinki race on You Tube (this video )
to confirm she had won by a good margin. After the interview Marjorie and her daughter also found and watched the 200M race which she also won by a good margin. Marjorie asked her daughter if she knew why she ran so fast. The answer- because your father (cyclist Peter Nelson) was watching in the stands.
I wonder if that is Peter Nelson waving the Aussie flag at 2 min 48 sec
Nice. Even though the quality is not great, it's fantastic to see this clip again. From 'The Olympiad' circa 1976 I think. Jackson's winning margin in the 100m was not even bettered by Flo-Jo in 1988 (if memory serves).
not even that fast
You try it with the leather running shoes they wore then, on the track surfaces they had then. Also, Marjorie Jackson didn't have a lot of money, without sponsorship, and couldn't afford the best running shoes. She said her shoes were too big at the toe, and she had to stuff them with newspaper. Context is important before you make judgements.
This was in the days when the olympians also held full time jobs. Marjorie trained at night at the local park in Lithgow. The park had no lights so the towns people with cars used to drive to the park and turn on their car headlights. In the 1960s she did an ad for a washing machine. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics she was one of 8 Australian Olympic medals winners who carried the Olympic flag along with people like Murray Rose , Michael Wenden and Bill Roycroft. She was also Governor of South Australia.