I must apologise for the tardiness of this missive, for it has been some time since I last penned what I believe is called a “blog”. I have been very much distracted by the Benjo caused by the exceptional games of the 31st Olympiad in Brazil.
The past few weeks have reminded me greatly of the first Olympiad in Athens and reading the well written articles describing the great feats of human achievement that were happening there. There were not as many medal to be won and nor were there as many events but there was still much to read in that week in April 1896.
Most of all it reminded me of our own British Olympic great of the 1896 games and made me wonder as to how the public would have taken to him if he were with us today. I am of course talking of the all round talented Launceston Elliot. It may seem as though I am making a stuffed bird laugh but he was our first Olympic champion and competed in 5 different events in 4 different disciplines. After coming second in the two handed lift weightlifting he won gold in the one handed lift. He also ran in the 100m narrowly missing the final, wrestled and performed in the rope climbing event of the Gymnastics. In 1900 he went back to the Olympics to finish 11th in the Discuss throw too. He was no Jessica Ennis-Hill (of this great Parish) but he was an all round Olympian to be proud of.
Charles’ expressions explained:
Benjo – excitement and noise in the streets/party
making a stuffed bird laugh – utterly ridiculous/preposterous