My Olympics

International Sports Hall of Fame and Olympic Museum

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QUALIFYING ROUNDS FOR SPRINTS, AND THE 1948 AND 1952 SUMMER OLYMPICS

ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT EASY TO QUALIFY FOR TWO OLYMPICS, AND EVERY MINUTE OF IT WAS WELL WORTH THE EFFORT. Eric Nash

"THE IMPORTANT THING IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS NOT TO WIN BUT TO TAKE PART,

THE IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS NOT THE TRIUMPH BUT THE STRUGGLE,

THE ESSENTIAL THING IS NOT TO HAVE CONQUERED BUT TO HAVE FOUGHT WELL" Pierre de Coubertain

Since these famous words from Baron Pierre de Coubertain fit so well into my life and sports, I felt inclined to mention them. My youth, although very interesting, was constantly filled with changes since childhood, sometimes with reversals by things that were going on beyond anybody's power when I was growing up at a time of political distress in the country of my birth, much later by my own mistakes for bad judgement, which resulted in expensive lessons. The years when I played football for Bolivar in La Paz and later for River Plate in Buenos Aires, were busy and full of activities and were perhaps my happiest time of my life, until it also got suddenly disrupted by political issues, like before and I left the easy life and had to leave Argentina and go to USA where I had to change my life to one with less fun and hard work, which I had to get used to. but still with fun because of my easy, relaxed way and always be satisfied of what life had in mind for me. It all happened because of a stupid political matter, without ever being involved in politics and having to leave my beloved Buenos Aires and end a successful football career with River Plate, possibility qualify for my third Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, a very hard downfall for, me which left a vast emptiness in my life, which to compensate for, made me go for adventures into the high mountains of the Andes and the jungles of the Amazon and Bolivian Matto Grosso and finally ending up in La Paz again and go the American Embassy in and apply for a visa to the United States which was no problem, other than when I got to the States and the two sports of importance resulted to be American football and baseball, but not my kind of football, which is called soccer in the USA. But I got used to life in the US and played Tennis and other sports and since my Olympic Committee still sent me Accreditation, I was able to live, march with the Argentine Team. I went to all the Olympics as a Guest, until I met my beautiful and wonderful wife in 1967 and life together became to be different and more meaningful, but I still went to Olympics, and when our children grew up, we then went together to to the games. And in essence I can consider myself very lucky to have a good and beautiful wife for 44 years, and the feeling that God has most of the time been good to me, for which I am very thankful.

Actually, this Web Site was meant to be about my Sport and Olympic experiences when I was young, but for my private life in South America and the yearly three month trips abroad with the team and be truthful, it would have to be in form of a book which I have started to write, and is about my private life, as well as my Sport and Olympic experiences. When I was still a very young boy, my Mother was very active in women's football in a first league club and even the Austrian National team, her two brothers Austrian Olympians for 1928 and my Father's brother was a top Austrian Skier, Sport was part of my upbringing, and I was told that I kicked a small Football soon after I started walking. I was Skiing and Ice Skating at six and played football for my school and a team for young boys when I was eight years old. My parents and I left our native Austria in 1937 for political reasons when I was eleven years old with our final destination La Paz, Bolivia, where my Father, an ex Colonel of the Austrian Army, trained soldiers for the Bolivian Army in La Paz, and had another business. I went to a private American school close to our home and played football for my school and club Bolivar's youth team and trained almost daily with their first division. One day, club River Plate, one of the five best Argentine football clubs traveled to La Paz for two friendly game against Bolivar, the best Bolivian team at the time and saw me train with their first division, Their coach was watching us train, and when we were finished, he came over and said that he liked the way I run with the ball and asked me if I would like to play for their third division and later get to their B team, and then perhaps play in first division. Buenos Aires has the very best schools and colleges of South America, and my parents thought it would be the best for me and a couple of days after my 17th birthday, took me to the train station, and I was off to Buenos Aires doing what I liked and knew best: Football! I also was good in the 100 and 200 meter sprints, as running is what the coach liked. I did not receive money, but River Plate paid for all my expenses. For one more year I still had to go to afternoon classes in a private high school and at 18 I was enrolled at the "Universidad de Buenos Aires", and since I came to Argentina on a permanent Visa, I had to serve two years of compulsive military service, which was made easier for me, since I was under contract with River Plate and also went to college and only had to serve a few hours after college and was free on the weekends, and play football for our third division, which restricted my private life considerably and I also could not participate in River Plate's three month summer tours for two years, since by then I already was playing in River Plate's second or "B" division. Otherwise, until military service would be over, I could not do much in the Paris of South America. other then see my girl friend after football and go to the club with her at the Sunday night buffet and dance. For most, Buenos Aires was great and always active with never ending nightlife, Tango places, Restaurants practically open all night and Subways running 20 hours. But duty was first, and for the next two years there were no operas, concerts and any other entertainment for me, which had to wait, as I hardly was able to see my Hungarian girlfriend the way I could before. My only routine for the next two years was training mornings, have a fabulous lunch five days a week and on the weekends, football and my girlfriend. And after the two years, on my 20th birthday, my Military Service was finished and I got a satisfactory dismissal and became a legitimate full Argentine Citizen, and I got a call from my parents to congratulate me for both occasions and I spent the evening with my two girlfriends, the two most beautiful Hungarian sisters which invited me for my birthday dinner and later we went dancing to close by Olivos, and whatever else we felt doing that day.

There are things the happen in one's life, that are never forgotten: The 1936 Winter and Summer Olympics and the first torch lighting ceremony in Greece, Adolf Hitler at the two Olympics, meeting the USA sprinters like Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe and others from the American team. Leaving Austria and getting to Bolivia and Argentina. Struggling to qualify and participate in two Olympics, playing in first division as professional, and at 28 having to leave Argentina, because of General Peron's corrupted presidency, and flee to Bolivia and coming to the USA as a political refugee, settle down and living happily with my wife & kids for 44 years.

By having completed military service and becoming a full Argentine citizen, I entered Olympic Trials for the 1948 London Games in the 100 and 200 meter sprints which I ran in 11.0 and 22.4 seconds respectively, or faster than was required, which only six other runners accomplished. Galan, Acosta and myself ran about the same time for the 100 and 200 meters with Bonhof a split second better time and so the four of us qualified and were chosen to run the 4x100 m Relay. After qualifying, I practiced sprints after college on the track at the campus and I also received my uniforms and accreditation. Three weeks before the Olympics, I received a letter from the COA Committee asking me to come for a meeting the next day. After calling them, I went in the late afternoon and was told that they received a letter from CIO, asking them to make sure that all athletes coming to London have to be of full amateur status and I was told that playing for a professional club and getting any kind of benefits or payments for sports cannot go to London, and since I was playing for River Plate, a professional football club, they thought that I really was not a full amateur, since I replaced players of first division for the annual three month football tours in summer. Alone by playing for River Plate, I had big advantages all paid by the club and they really could not let me participate in the Olympics for the Argentine National Team, because of the strict CIO rules. I said that this was not the truth and offered them to change my name for the second time, but that was not accepted. Besides, name changing is not as easy as in the USA and is quite an expensive lengthy court procedure I would have had to go through and I was already playing with a Spanish name and not my original tough to pronounce Czech name, which was paid by River Plate. On top of that, my Father had already changed the name Natscheradetz to Nash when living New York from Bolivia, which I adopted later, when I was forced to leave Argentina for the USA in 1955. But since I was not a professional player with a paid salary as first division players, I asked for a formal meeting with all the Officials present and went to our club owner and chairman and asked him for advise. Next day at the meeting River Plate's attorney came with me and stated that I was not a professional player, which was certified by Antonio Vespucio Alberti, and the AFA which sufficient that I was going to the London Olympics with the Argentine Olympic Team as participant. and could run in London, but officially will be registered as an alternate, because of the strict CIO rules. Since I knew from the beginning that we did not have a chance to win against US sprinters like Harrison Dillard that ran 100 meters in 10.3, or Mel Patton 200m in 21.1, at lest a full second less than myself and our other sprinters, so I was glad that I was a recognized Olympian and having looked forward to go and three weeks leave plus 1st class free airfare through River Plate, it all worked out fine. The team went by Navy flag ship, which would have taken two weeks each way and I flew to London, since I did not have enough time and had to be back right after the Olympics. As team member, I had to keep to strict team regulations, rules and training schedules, since our Chef de Mission was strict, and had our team work out hard every morning. He told me that my time was getting slower than at my trials and also I noticed being tired from not getting enough sleep. I was able to get a London Torch and several other things, which, with all my football trophies, pictures and documents, when suddenly having to leave in hast, I left with my neighbor friends and never saw again, since when I came back to Buenos Aires with my American passport as Eric Nash six years later, but my friends were killed by police for being communists.

XIV. SUMMER OLYMPIAD, LONDON, ENGLAND 29/7 to 14/8 1948

Considering that only three years had passed since the end of the second World War, everything was well planned and organized and I had a great time in London, as I described above. Upon the sounds of the British National Anthem, His Royal Majesty King George VI entered Wembley Stadium, greeted by BOC and CIO members and reviewed the entrance of the Athletes, with Greece coming in first and Great Britain last. CIO President Sigfrid Edstrom and Organizing Committee President Lord Burleigh,1928 Olympic Hurdles Gold Medalist, welcomed the participants and officials and invited his Majesty King George VI. to open the games, which he did with the following words "I declare the Games of London to celebrate the XIV Olympiad of the modern era, as open", followed by the hoisting of the Olympic Flag and the arrival of the Olympic Flame carried by Olympian John Mark, who circled the Track when the Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra performed the Olympic Hymn, and ignited the flame at the Olympic Cauldron in front of the Honor Tribune among a grandiose ovation. The Olympic Oath was taken by Olympian Donald Finlay with following words: "We swear that we will take part in the Olympic games, in loyal competition, and respecting the regulations which govern them, and the desire of participating in them, in true spirit of sportsmanship for the honor of our country and for the Glory of Sport" Then, after thousands of pigeons and balloons were released, the London Opening Ceremony came to an end and the 1948 Olympic Games were to begin the next morning. As I thought, Argentina did not do well in the Sprints and Running events, only Delfo Cabrera, an Argentine fireman I knew from Buenos Aires, won gold in the Marathon in a most dramatic and disputed finishes I have ever seen, as Cabrera passed Belgian Etienne Gailly inside the stadium and circled the track in great style ahead of Thomas Richards GB, and finished second, ahead of a worn out Gailly.Also two boxers won Gold Medals, Pascual Perez, light weight and Rafael Iglesias in the heavy weight class. I saw both fight at Luna Park in Buenos Aires, before and after the Olympics. A superb athlete was Bob Mathias USA, 17 years old, winning the Decathlon, Fanny Blankers-Koen, NETH, won four Gold medals, somethin never accomplished before. Ilona Elek, Fencing for HUN, and Jan Brzek CZEC won Gold Medals in1936 and1948 in Canoeing. Dezso Gyarmati, HUN a national hero and best Water Polo player in the world. He won five Olympic medals in five Olympics and wife Olga won also Gold. Harrison Dillard USA, won Gold in the 100 meter dash and CZE, Emile Zatopek Gold, 5,000 m, SWE, Gold in Soccer against YUG, IND Gold in Hockey Karoly, Takacs HUN Gold in Pistol, a national hero, USA, Gold in Men's Long Jump, Pole Vault, Swimming and Basketball. Sailing, FRA and ITA Gold in Cycling, Micheline Ostermayer FRA, won two Gold for Discus and Shot Put. The Closing Ceremonies came to an end with a speech by IOC President Sigfrid Edstrom. And after the large Olympic Flag was retrieved and the Olympic Flame extinguished, the Closing Ceremony was followed by a display of very wonderful fireworks, which brought the London Olympics of 1948 to an end.

VX. SUMMER OLYMPIAD, HELSINKI, FINLAND 19/7 to 3/8 1952

Not the strict festivities as for 1936 Berlin, nor ware any other Olympics since, but real nice Olympic Games, thanks to all the Finnish people involved, going out to show their best side. At the Opening Ceremony it was raining badly when the Officials arrived at the Olympic Stadium, and the Finnish National Anthem was being performed by the Helsinki National Symphony Orchestra. As we entered the newly built Olympic Stadium. it was raining heavily, and as usual, Greece entered first. When the teams finished lining up, IOC President Sigfrid Edstrom welcomed the participants and invited the President of Finland, Julio Paasikivi to open the Olympic Games, which he did. While the big Olympic Flag was hoisted and the Finnish opera chorus sang the Olympic Hymn, one of the greatest runners of all times, Paavo Nurmi entered the Stadium carrying the flaming Torch and circled the track in his great running style and then lit the cauldron which was situated in front of the Honor Tribune, under enormous ovation that did not seem to end. Next, young Football players carried the Flame to the top of the Stadium Tower where another great runner, Hannes Kolehmainen took it, and lit the Official Olympic Cauldron on top of the Stadium tower, also under a non ending ovation and then Heikki Savolinen, one of the Finnish Olympians, took the Olympic Oath on behalf of all Athletes. After that, thousands of pigeons were released, with which the Opening Ceremony came to an end. All the Athletes were leaving the stadium together in great harmony and camaraderie. Paavo Nurmi, Hannes Kolehmainen and Emil Zatopek were and remain the greatest Long Distance runners that the world has ever seen. Emil Zatopek, when winning three Gold medals for the 5,000 and 10,000 meter race and Marathon in the same Olympics, is the only athlete ever to do so in Olympic History, an accomplishment, unsurpassed to this day. His wife Dana Zatopkova also won a Gold Medal in the Javelin throw. What a treat to have seen Zatopek run and win three Gold Medals in the very hardest competitions of the Olympics and which most likely will never be surpassed by anyone else either. What luck to have witnessed such great triumphs and great athletes as Zatopek, Nurmi and Kohlemainen together. The Closing Cermony was rather simple as we marched in with our teams in the same order as at the Opening Ceremony, and IOC Presiden Sigfrid Edstrom thanked the athletes for participating and inviting them to the next Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo who's Mayor accepted to keep the Olympic Flag until the next Olympics. There were a few more speeches and the transfer of the IOC Presidency from Sigfrid Edstrom to the new IOC President Avery Brundage, who accepted in a speech.

The Soviet Union sent an Olympic team for the first time after many years. Their women Gymnasts were so superior, that they won every team event in Gymnastics for the next forty years. Israel also sent a team for the first time. Outstanding Bob Mathias of the USA won his second Gold medal. As the youngest Athlete to win Gold at seventeen in London and only Athlete to win two successive Gold medals in the Decathlon, a great accomplishment being twice in a row the best overall Athlete in the world. The USA swept the 1952 Olympics, winning Gold Medals for 100, 200, 800, 4x100, Discus, Javelin and Long Jump. Harrison Dillard won Gold in the 110 m hurdles, Charles Moore Gold in 400 m hurdles, Bob Richards Gold in the pole vault. Polo was not an Olympic sport anymore and Argentina did not do well and only won Gold medals in rowing and boxing and again did not come with a football team. Jamaica won in 400 meter and 4x400 meter races, Hungary won the Gold in football with a great team and one of the world's greatest players, Ferenc Puskas, of same age as me. When he played for Honved in Budapest, we played against each other many years ago. He was one of greatest players, and only comparable to Maradona, Di Estefano, Pedernera and Pele. Hungary won Gold in water polo with the great 5 times medal winner Dezso Gyarmati. His wife Olga, also won Gold in swimming; Laszlo Papp HUN. won Gold for the third time in boxing and Floyd Pattererson, USA also Gold in boxing and Ilona Elek HUN, two time Gold, won only Silver.

At the Closing Ceremony, athletes of all nations entered the Stadium together, mingling, getting acquainted and establishing new friendships. Thousands of balloons were released and and spectacular fireworks filled the sky and while incoming President Avery Brundage was closing the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and thanked the athletes for coming, the Olympic Flame slowly extinguished itself, and with the last flicker of the Olympic Flame, the XV. Olympic Games of Helsinki 1952 had ended, and all the athletes left the stadium together in unity, remembering the past two great weeks. I made several foreign friends and had a nice time in Finland.

XVI. SUMMER OLYMPIAD, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 22/11 to 8/12 For a more complete report of the Melbourne Olympics, link to "Summer Olympics"

In early 1955 a military revolution broke out in Argentina against the Peron Government with Peron fleeing by boat first to Central America, and ending in Spain. Since I and many others held honorary membership in the Peron Party and secret agents were looking for me, by getting hold of the member book and once one was taken to the Police Department, your life was in their hands and I decided to leave everything, including my Olympic and Football trophies with my printed memories and pictures and took the train to La Paz, Bolivia and went to the American Embassy to ask for political asylum and apply for a visa to the USA and thereby had to loose my football status in first division of River Plate, and chances to qualify for a third Olympics in Melbourne Australia, and I was invited to participate a third time in the Olympic trials for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, for which I possibly could have qualified, by being in top shape playing football and running the same times as always. Since I was advised to leave at once, all I could do is leave my Olympic and football trophies with my good friend and neighbor, an attorney and hid wife and call my girlfriend and leave. When I returned after six years, my friends were not alive anymore and his parents were still looking for him and his beautiful young wife walking with their picture on Plaza de Mayo with all the other young people that disappeared and are not alive.

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