Bermuda Biographies - This Month In History

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Manager W. F. (Chummy) Hayward with some of Bermuda's 1948 Olympians,
(from left) Phyllis Lightbourn, Phyllis Edness, Robert Cook and Walter Bardgett

Photo: Courtesy Bermuda Olympic Association

August, 1948

Bermuda athletes make a splash at London Games

Bermuda made a splash in London at the 1948 Olympics, the first to be held since 1936, and the ensuing outbreak of the Second War War.

It was second time Bermuda had competed at the Games but unlike in 1936, the contingent was integrated. There were 12 athletes in all: Phyllis Edness, Phyllis Lightbourn, Hazzard Dill, Perry Johnson, Stanley Lines and Frances Mahoney competed in track and field; swimmers Walter Bardgett, Robert Cook, Philip Tribley, Derek Oatway and Donald Shanks, and diver Francis “Goose” Gosling, who turned in the best performance of all.

Bermuda was one of 61 countries represented and its team was the seventh to enter Wembley Stadium for the opening ceremonies on July 29. Dressed in white doeskins and wearing white helmets, they were led by manager W.F. “Chummy” Hayward, carrying the flag.

Of the track and field athletes, Phyllis Lightbourn had the best showing. She reached the semi-finals of the 100 and 200 metres and narrowly missed getting into the long jump final. Phyllis Edness was in line to win her100 metre heat, but stomach cramps robbed her of that achievement.

The relay team of Dill, Johnson, Lines and Mahoney finished last in the second heat, Dill’s third-place finish in the 400 metres heat was not enough to earn him a place in the second round and the swimmers were eliminated as well.

Diver Gosling had an impressive 10th place finish. It’s believed he would have placed as high as sixth had he not been distracted by a photographer’s click which caused him to lose ten points. He didn’t lodge a protest, but the next contestant did, refusing to dive until photographers were removed from the gallery.

The Bermuda athletes enjoyed their share of celebrity during their weeks in London. They were sought out for autographs, Lighbourn was a crowd favourite and Gosling’s result put him in the spotlight.

But the Bermudians were disappointed by their showing—only Lightbourn, Edness and Gosling came close to matching their previous times. Lighbourn collapsed at the finish line of the 200 metres race and had to be carried off the field.

Bernard Brown, The Royal Gazette’s man on the scene, wrote: “They have not said so in so many words but their manner indicates to me that they feel they have let the colony down. Personally I do not think so. The people of Bermuda did not expect them to win medals but did expect them to do their best. I think they exceeded expectations.”

Sources: The Royal Gazette, July 14, August 2 and 9.