Just once in a lifetime There's one special moment One wonderful moment When fate takes your hand

The 1500 metres has been considered the blue ribbon event on the Olympic Track and Field program.

The little country of Nu Zulun has done well in the event. Jack Lovelock, Peter Snell, and John Walker all won gold medals - Nick Willis a silver, and Rod Dixon - bronze. Have I missed any?  Ahh yes, John Davis -bronze.

Now that's quite a haul folks!

But today I want to pay tribute to another even smaller country, Luxembourg, and a man who had his moment in the sun - Joseph (Josy) Barthel.

Roger Bannister  (177), was the hot favourite for the 1952 Helsinki 1500 metre title. He was one of a group of athletes trying to stake out a claim on the first sub-four-minute mile. He finally accomplished in May 1954 with a 3:59.4 posting.

However, in Helsinki, Roger was right royally spooked or psyched-out as we say today.

What happened you ask? Well, it goes like this. Roger was expecting two races. The elimination round and a final. Roger trained accordingly as you do.

Late on in the piece, it was announced that a semi-final would need to be held because of the number of entrants.

"Ouch" said Roger, "I haven't trained for this".

Words that no athlete should ever utter folks!

Enter stage right one Josy Barthel (ninth in the London 1500 metre final - 4 years prior).

He was an outsider, but on the day, the man from Luxembourg was magnificent.

No one could match his devastating finish. And just look at the smile on his face - it suggests consummate ease! He smashed Lovelock's Olympic record with a 3:45.2.

Cometh the hour - cometh the man.

Well, of course in Luxembourg, he became a national hero overnight.

A stadium was named after him. Stade Josy Barthel - the national stadium of Luxembourg.

Wonder if they'll ever name a stadium after me???

oh....  ya daft apeth!




Source of above photo: IOC