B.C. Olympian’s gold medals restored 43 years after they were stolen | 24CA News
More than 4 many years after they had been stolen, gold medals as soon as once more adorn the tribute to Percy Williams on the BC Sports Hall of Fame in Vancouver.
Williams received double gold for Canada on the 1928 Olympics within the 100 metre and 200 metre sprint, turning into simply the third athlete in historical past to win each occasions. Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966 the place his medals had been on show till they had been stolen in 1980. They have by no means been recovered.
Due to the bizarre circumstances, the International Olympic Committee agreed to recreate the medals on the request of Williams’ household, primarily based on the unique specs from the Amsterdam Games.
“I am thrilled the Olympic committee can replace Percy’s medals and restore the memory of his contribution to Canadian history,” stated Williams’ 102-year-old cousin-in-law Della Riedel in a video launched by the Hall of Fame. She was eight years previous when Williams took gold.
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“We are very happy to have played a small part in renewing Percy’s story,” stated Tracey Mead, a member of Williams’ prolonged household who was available at BC Place to donate the medals to the Hall of Fame. “He was an ideal Canadian athlete and now his accomplishments might be again on show.
“We felt compelled to put his recognition back in place not only because of our family connection but also so people don’t forget this great man.”
The parade for Percy Williams in 1928 was the biggest Vancouver had ever seen.
Vancouver Public Library
Williams began working on the age of 16, one 12 months after he was instructed to chorus from sports activities attributable to acute rheumatic fever. In 1928, he waited tables to lift cash to pay his personal option to the Olympic trials in Hamilton, Ontario.
Williams’ victory on the Olympics was so surprising, officers didn’t have a Canadian flag or nationwide anthem for the medal ceremony.
He returned to a hero’s welcome, greeted by 25,000 folks on the prepare station. It was the biggest parade Vancouver had ever seen.
“Without a doubt, Percy Williams is one of the most underappreciated Canadian Olympic athletes of all time,” stated BC Sports Hall of Fame Curator Jason Beck in an announcement. “The recreation of Percy’s Amsterdam 1928 Olympic gold medals returns the spotlight within the BC Sports Hall of Fame to one of the more incredible underdog stories in the history of B.C. sport.”
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