The first Olympics I ever followed were the 1968 Olympics in the rarefied atmosphere of Mexico City. Unbeknowns to me, it was a pretty exciting and eventful Olympics starting point.
I was twelve years old and living in the Northern New Guinea seaside town of Madang, arguably the prettiest town in all Papua New Guinea.
I was only just starting to realise there was a world outside my little world of jungle, coral, humidity and undescribable natural geographical tropical beauty.
My family had recently returned from holidays in Australia in the summer of 1967-68.
I found out about the rugby league Kangaroo tourists (and the man in the bowler hat); the Indian cricket tourists; Australia defending the Davis Cup tennis; the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and Lionel Rose knocking out Rocky Gattellari (early in 1968 Rose won the World Bantamweight division against ‘fighting’ Harada).
Anyway, back to the Olympics.
Our teacher with the Aristotle-esque name, John Maximus (he WAS born to be a teacher), encouraged us to follow the Olympics through the newspapers and magazines (there was no TV in Papua New Guinea in 1968) and bring clippings to school each day to put on a notice board.
This was the Olympics of the Bob Beamon forever and ever long jump record; the introduction of the Dick Frosbury ‘flop’ high jump technique, now common everywhere; the ‘arrival’ of African runners, who won every track event from 1500m to the marathon; and the ‘black power’ salute and widespread civil unrest around the globe.
The USA and USSR were a two nation team, way out in front of everyone else. The USA won 45-28-34 (107) and USSR 29-32-30 (91). As far the Cold War was concerned, Democracy was clearly superior!
Despite its modest total of 5-7-5 (17), Australia did exceptionally well. It’s gold medal tally of five was equal 8th highest, while its overall total of 17 medals ranked seventh.
East and West Germany sent separate teams for the first time (they reunited for 1992). The East Germans showed early glimpses of future drug inspired dominance with 9-9-7 (25), while West Germany won 5-11-10 (26).
Back in 1968, Australia was still a somebody in athletics, as well as a reasonable but declining swimming power.
We won two gold medals on the track – Ralph Doubell in the mens 800m and Maureen Caird in the womens 80m hurdles, eclipsing her more fancied countrywoman Pam Kilborn.
We picked up silver and bronze in the womens 200m with Raelene Boyle and Jenny Lamy.
But perhaps the most extraordinary and least appreciated performance to this day, was Peter Norman’s silver medal in the mens 200m.
Later on the victory dias, American gold medallist Tommie Smith and fellow countrymen bronze medallist John Carlos both gave a black-gloved salute during the national anthem. Both men were immediately kicked out of the games.
Norman supported them by wearing an ‘equal rights’ badge on his tracksuit. He was basically excommunicated by the Australian Olympic Committee for this support.
There is a terrific documentary being screened at the moment – Salute – and I highly recommend it to people as an example of a very troubled time.
In the pool, Lyn McClements was a surprise winner in the womens 100m butterfly. Mike Wenden was less of a surprise, pulling off the mens 100m and 200m mens freestyle.
Due to politics, our greatest swimmer Dawn Fraser was banned from competing. Although 30, she still held the fastest time for the womens 100m.
A brash young American named Mark Spitz, then eighteen, had predicted he would win six gold medals. He only managed two gold medals in the relays. But four years later in Munich, he stunned the world by winning seven gold medals.
Elsewhere, Australia picked up silver medals in mens rowing eights and mens hockey, and a bronze in equestrian three-day event (an event Australia has dominated in recent times).
What has struck me reading the results of the 1968 Olympics, was the high number of Australian ‘top eight’ finishes in athletics. Wouldn’t we love that kind of achievement today!
What are the first Olympic memories of other Roar posters?
Kim Tyler
Guest
Hi Sheek, I was in Madang 66 to 75 including 72 on at Woodlawn College in Lismore. My brother Jim I think was in with your lot by the names you mentioned - they were a wild lot of kids in that year-and played League for the 1st.13 in 1975 defeating every country team in NSW before playing the curtainraiser for the English Match in Grafton.. Mr.Maximus was an amazing bloke-I wish I had appreciated him more at the time instead of being a pain in his arse.He now lives in the Gold Coast, is aware that I really did find him inspirational-years later- and is very active in the New Guinea assn. Jim returned to Madang recently and wrote a small article on it - have a look at http://www.redbackwebdesign.com.au/madang/ .All the best. Kim Tyler
Mungo
Guest
Sheek Like I said longpela stori ya, I ended up at cranbrook 73/74, played your blokes at that park (waverly park?) only time I was injured in a match, my mate who was from PNG played breakaway and accidently nearly poked my eye out, my own teammate, you guys had a good swimmer Brad Cooper, we had a Steven Badger. give us a call sometime 0740985282. Cheers
sheek
Guest
Mungo, So you're a few years my senior. Funny, around your time 1970-72, your school (Trinity) & my school (Waverley) used to go the bash in the seniors. But by the time I reached seniors (1973-75), we were on the best of terms. Dad was DDC at the time Des C-B was DC in Madang. Some of those names - Yip, Moeder, Stokes - ring a bell in my foggy memory. You were basically the other end of town to me. I was good mates with a native a year ahead of me. I particularly enjoyed sleepovers at his place, & native cuisine. Unfortunately, I cannot recall his name. It will return eventually, but not right now! I don't know if any of these names ring a bell with you - Docherty, Symonds, Meek, O'Brien, Smith, Page, Moulder, Jaensch, Kaad, Grant, Meek, Bretag, Whisson, etc.
Mungo
Guest
Sorry I meant "some of the old mans Mates kids", used to swim in the madang hotel pool, Id say our paths may have crossed at some time in our youth.
Mungo
Guest
Sheek I never went to school in Madang, my mother was from the highlands and lived at biliau (near the airport with my kid brother) the old man was a british coffe planter (minj) he drowned in 63 in the wahgi river duck shooting, he saved my life actually, long story but I ended up with the missho's and went to Trinity Grammer in 65 (prep) to 71, I only visited Madang once a year xmas hols, I used to muck around with some of the old mans kids, the Batts, Stokes, knew some of the mixed race kids Yips, Moeders, Kramers, Your old man would have known Des Clifton Bassett, he was the DC around the late 60s early 70s. Your right even Port Moresby was OK in those days
sheek
Guest
So Mungo, When were you in Madang, where did you live, did you attend Primary A school, where did you go to boarding school??? I lived in Madang late 1964 to late 1968. By the time I started boarding school in Sydney the following year, the family had relocated to Port Moresby. While most expats rubbished PM, I actually loved it. My father finished up after Independence (1975), which was also the last time I was there. In Madang we lived right on the peninsula opposite Madang Hotel, with Kranket island across the shipping channel from us. Several of us once swam across to Kranket & back again. How a shark didn't take us is beyond me. The fearless stupidity of youth. Dad was Deputy District Commissioner (DDC). We often went to the Madang Hotel pool for a swim. I attended Primary A School in Regina St, across from the golf course. It was like a mini United Nations. Apart from having kids from every state of Australia, we had merchant & missionary children whose parents came from New Zealand, USA, Canada, England, Wales, Holland & Germany. We also had Chinese, Polynesian & gifted native kids. Several times a year a coastal trawler full of townsfolk would head out to Pig island for a day out, BBQ, swim, etc. My mother had the privilege of losing control of her VW on a stormy night & running into the chain fence around the Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse. Mungo, I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful those years, firstly in Madang, & later in Port Moresby were. But if you were there at a similar time, even a decade later, I'm sure you would know what I mean.
Mungo
Guest
Sheek Your right, Madang still is a pretty spot, I was 13, boarding in Sydney, I came home once a year (dec) to Madang, Im farly sure Rose beat Gattelari before claiming the title off Harada and I think Susie Playfair won a bronze in the breastroke? Nevertheless like you it was my introduction to the Olympics, will have to catch up sometime and ava beer.
Bruce Walkley
Guest
I remember the 1968 Olympics well. Working for AAP, I was at the press conference after the black power salute, I watched through binoculars as Brian Corrigan tended to Ron Clarke trackside, and scribbled a note to my senior colleague Jim Shrimpton, who was dictating the story over the phone. "Corrigan's crying," I wrote. "Doctor Corrigan wept as...." Jim dictated without missing a beat (all this was before mobile phones, email and the like, of course). I also remember well, after watching Amos Biwot street the field in a pre-Games steeplachase trial at the university track, asking Clarke what he thought of the Kenyans' performances that day. "I'm trying not to think about it," was Ron's unsurprisingly frank reply. And I remember, too, helping teammates of highly distressed cyclist John Bylsma get him back to his room on the night he missed out on an almost certain individual pursuit medal because his team manager put the wrong gear on his bike. The best performances I saw were by Beamon, Ralph Doubell and the wonderful French sprint cyclist Daniel Morelon, up with the best I have seen, in a three-way tie with Sid Patterson and Mac Sloane.
Chris A
Guest
My father had bought a television just to watch the Rome Olympics in 1960, in fact I think he might have rented it because I do remember my mother saying it was going back straight after the games had finished ,of course that never happened. Athletics was the main focus and for 2 weeks I was glued to the set as only a 10 year old can be. I have a few distinct memories Peter Radford getting a bronze in the 100 , I should say this was in England, the Italian Livio Berrutti won the 200 wearing sunglasses, Abebe Bikila won his first gold medal without shoes in the marathon, but above all Heb Elliott cleaned up the 1500. Conventional wisdom then was to let someone else make a move first and then let them exhaust themselves, not Elliott with one and a half laps still to go he accelerated and never looked back once. He was still going away at the finish. Such courage, such strength, such confidence in his own ability. That grainy black and white screen allowed me to see one of the great sporting moments of the century not just the Games
Chris Beck
Guest
Forgive my talking about a Winter Olympics, a subject of questionable interest for the typical Australian or reader of the Roar, but sheek asked . . . . My first Olympic memory would be the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. I was ten years old. We still had a black and white TV back then, I think. I didn't know what ice hockey was before 1980. But after the "Miracle on Ice" that saw a squad of collegiate players somehow beat the vaunted Soviet team in the semifinals and then go on to win the gold medal, the whole country knew. I still get chills down my spine when I see replays of the last seconds of the USSR-USA match and hear Al Michaels' call from the TV broadcast: "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!!" I didn't know about speed skating either before 1980. All Eric Heiden did was to win the gold medal in every single men's race, from 500 meters all the way up to 10,000 meters, setting four Olympic records and one world record in the process. And all of that on an outdoor track!