The Anonymous Widower

Plastic Brits

There has been a lot of criticism about the UK choosing athletes, swimmers and others from other countries. There is an article on the BBC here, in which Paula Radcliffe talks about the subject and defends those who come here to compete.

But in some ways, it’s always happened. After all, Linford Christie was born in Jamaica, although he’s lived in the UK, since he was seven.

The Times today tells the story of Ben Helfgott, a Polish Jew, who survived the Holocaust and eventually ended up in England, who competed in two Olympic Games for Great Britain. He later went on to be a respected internsation weightlifting administrator.  Today at 82, he is president of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

Like Paula, he wouldn’t agree with the term plastic brit.

April 28, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | Sport, World | Judaism, Olympics, Weightlifting