This month marks 60 years since the 1964 edition of the Olympic Games took place in the Japanese capital
Sixty years ago this month, the world witnessed the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, a landmark event that introduced Asia to the global stage of the Olympic Games.
Not only was it the first time the Games were hosted in Asia, but it also marked a technological milestone as the first Olympics to be broadcast live via satellite.
While Team GB’s performance in 2012 was celebrated as the nation’s best-ever Olympic outing, it’s interesting to compare it to the 1964 haul.
Back then, Great Britain brought home four gold medals, seven silvers, one bronze and five fourth-place finishes.
Two of the gold medals from Tokyo came with record-breaking performances. Mary Rand, one of Britain’s standout athletes at the time, took home gold in the long jump.
On a rain-soaked runway, she began with a UK record jump of 6.59m and by the fifth round she shattered the world record, leaping an impressive 6.76m.
Just three days later, on October 17, 1964, Rand added to her medal tally with a silver in the women’s pentathlon.
She completed her Olympic medal set by winning bronze in the 4x100m relay alongside team-mates Janet Simpson, Daphne Arden and Dorothy Hyman.
Ann Packer wins in Tokyo (Mark Shearman)
The second world record for the British team in Tokyo came from Ann Packer in the 800m. Despite being a relative novice at the distance, she won a dramatic race in a world record of 2:01.10. With this victory, Packer became the first British woman to win an Olympic title on the track.
The other two golds for Great Britain in 1964 were achieved by Ken Matthews in the 20km race walk and Lynn Davies in the men’s long jump.
Davies delivered the best performance of his career with a jump of 8.07m, clinching the top spot on the podium.
Lynn Davies (Mark Shearman)
In total, 11 world records were set during the Tokyo Olympics. Among the most notable was Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila, who clocked a marathon time of 2:12:20, and USA’s Bob Hayes, who ran a blistering 10.00 seconds in the 100m final.
The Games also saw other unforgettable performances, such as New Zealand’s Peter Snell securing an extraordinary 800m and 1500m double.
Peter Snell (Mark Shearman)
In the 10,000m, America’s Billy Mills pulled off a sensational win, finishing nearly 50 seconds faster than his personal best to take gold and the dramatic men’s discus final stood out, with USA’s Al Oerter claiming victory in a…
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