Olympic Games/ Summer, 1948, 1952, London, Helsinki/ Rooster - Lot 256

Olympic Games/ Summer, 1948, 1952, London, Helsinki/ Rooster. Two official pieces:a) French team crest, fabric, embroidered: "Londres, 1948", with a small hole at top left, 10x7; b) highly stylized participant medal by Kauko Räsanen, obverse square athlete's head and stadium "Helsinki, 1952", reverse "XV Olympia", a male and female couple carry the torch. Bronze, diameter 6cm. Edition 14000. Here, it's Micheline Ostermeyer (1922-2001) who deserves a mention, as the triple medalist (gold in shot put and discus, bronze in height) was also a virtuoso pianist (first prize at the Conservatoire). Talent, class and modesty, that was her. She had also been world university champion in the high jump in 1947 (see elsewhere). In London, there were 285 cocks, and France finished 3rd with 29 medals.