Étienne Gailly (; 26 November 1922, Beringen – 3 November 1971,

Genval Rixensart (; wa, Ricsinsåt) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2018, Rixensart had a total population of 22,401. The total area is 17.54 km² which gives a population density of ...

) was a

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

soldier and Olympic athlete who competed mainly in the Marathon.

Career

Étienne Gailly was a Belgian who served as a paratrooper during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. Towards the end of the War, as he participated in the liberation of his home country in late 1944, Gailly was profoundly moved by the devastation to his home. He vowed that he would win an Olympic gold medal or drop trying. He was a club runner, wearing the colors of London's

Belgrave Harriers Belgrave Harriers, founded in October 1887, is an athletics club in Britain, with headquarters located in Wimbledon, close to Wimbledon Common. As of February 2013, they had the most successful record in the history of the British Athletics Leag ...

. After the war he continued running. His results after the war were moderately good but not threatening to the world leaders. In 1948 he was not rated as a serious contender for the Olympic marathon, held in London. Although he did not win the

Olympic marathon The marathon at the Summer Olympics is the only road running event held at the multi-sport event. The men's marathon has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896. Nearly ninety years later, the women's event was added to the prog ...

, he became a hero. In his first full marathon run, in very hot conditions Gailly took the race out hard. Inexperienced at this distance, and underestimating the dehydrating effect of the severe and unusual heat and humidity, he opened up a lead of over half a minute at the course midpoint. On two occasions he beat back challenges, first from Korean Choi and then the Argentinian Cabrera. It seemed Gailly's determination might win him the race, although by this point his lead was dwindling and his pace was slowing.Étienne Gailly
, ''Belgrave Harriers''. Retrieved 5 January 2019. However, nearing the stadium and the finish, he suddenly and completely ran out of gas. As he faded, thanks to the heat and his own ambitious pacemaking in extremely tough conditions, Gailly was reeled in by

Delfo Cabrera Delfo Cabrera Gómez (April 2, 1919 – August 2, 1981) was an Argentine athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1948 Summer Olympics in one of the most dramatic finishes in athletics history. Biography Born in Armstrong, Santa Fe Pr ...

(ARG) and Tom Richards (GBR). Entering the stadium in the lead but stumbling with exhaustion, the crowd roaring encouragement, he was passed by Cabrera during the final lap. He fell and was then passed by Richards. The crowd gasped with horror and willed him to get up. The home straight was an almost unending nightmare for the staggering Gailly, but despite falling again, he dragged himself half-standing over the line. He finished third to a standing ovation. Cabrera finished in 2:34:51.6, Richards in 2:35.07.6, and Gailly in 2:35.33.6. Gailly was unable to attend the victory ceremony because his efforts put him in hospital. Gailly contested the 1950 European Championship marathon but his subsequent career was cut short by an injury sustained during service in the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

. During the

Battle of Haktang-ni The Battle of Haktang-Ni was a skirmish in the Korean War fought between a largely Belgian United Nations Command (UN) contingent and Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) forces between 9–13 October 1951, just north of the city of Chorwon. B ...

, Gailly stepped on a trip-flare sustaining a minor wound.A. Crahay, Bérets Bruns en Corée 1950-1953 (Vécu Par Des Belges) p. 126

Other

Both Etienne and his brother Pierre served during the

as part of the

Belgian United Nations Command The Volunteer Corps for Korea (french: Corps de Volontaires pour la Corée; nl, Vrijwilligerskorps voor Korea) was a Belgian–Luxembourg military force sent to assist South Korea during the Korean War. A battalion-sized unit, it arrived in Korea ...

. Pierre Gailly was killed in action, Etienne seriously wounded.

References

External links

Color film, 1948 London Olympic Marathon
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gailly, Etienne 1922 births 1971 deaths Belgian male long-distance runners Belgian male marathon runners Belgian military personnel of World War II Belgian military personnel of the Korean War Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes for Belgium Olympic bronze medalists for Belgium People from Beringen, Belgium Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) Belgian Army personnel Paratroopers Sportspeople from Limburg (Belgium) 20th-century Belgian people