The International Olympic Committee, headed
by the founder of the modern Olympic movement,
Baron de Coubertin, decided to award a gold medal
retrospectively to all those who had taken part in
the 1922 attempt on Everest. In the presentation
speech, at the foot of Mont Blanc, de Coubertin
said the award was to celebrate ‘absolute heroism
on behalf of all of the nations of the world.’
This gold was unique on a number of grounds:
It is the only occasion when Alpinism has been
an Olympic sport.
Never before has a multi-national team been
awarded a medal: 12 Britons, 1 Australian,
1 Nepali, and 7 posthumous Indian medallists.
There was neither competition nor competitors.
This was the first and last time an ‘event’ was
not part of the actual games, having taken place
two years before.
Three OWs won gold in a single event and there
was no second place.
Nash is the first Wykehamist to win
a medal at two separate Olympics.
His crew was described by Sir Steve
Redgrave as ‘the best four we’ve
(GB) produced.’