80 metres Hurdles, Women

The official World Record was held by Fanny Blankers-Koen, who had run 11.3 seconds in war-time Amsterdam. But in the run-up to the Games Maureen Gardner, a 19-year-old ballet dancer from Oxford, had clocked 11.2. Although not recognized as a World Record, this propelled her into the role of contender, especially in the eyes of the British media. Her main opponent would be Blankers-Koen, the reigning European Champion. Gardner struggled and stumbled through the first rounds, while Blankers-Koen equalled the World Record in the heats. In the final, Gardner appeared to move slightly before the start, causing Blankers-Koen to assume a false start. But the race went on, giving Gardner a clear lead by the first hurdle. Blankers-Koen quickly pulled next to her, racing side-to-side until the finish line. For a brief moment the runners where unaware who had won. When “God Save the King” was played, the Dutchwoman assumed she had lost. But the national anthem was played because of the arrival of the Royal Family, and the announcer then confirmed a win in World Record time for Blankers-Koen. According to automatic timing uncovered later, she had won the race by 0.05, but in 1948, both runners where given the same hand time.