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Proud & Loud. He has already won enough trophies for a lifetime, and he does not expect to compete in the decathlon again. Instead, he will concentrate at Stanford on one or two specialties, probably the discus and hurdles. He will also concentrate on his studies (he is a physical education major with a B average). After college, he thinks he might get a coaching job or a public-relations post with a sporting-goods firm. But when he graduates next spring, he will turn in his red & white Stanford uniform for Marine Corps green. As a reserve lieutenant, he faces a two-year hitch on active duty that will come to an end just short of the 1956 Olympics, scheduled to be held in Australia.
This week at Helsinki, Bob seemed to have no worries about either 1952 or 1956. Easy and relaxed, he pronounced himself "in better condition than I was two weeks ago, though I had a little trouble sleeping the first night because the sun never seems to set in this country." In his dark blue U.S. Olympic sweatshirt, he was working out at the pole-vault pit, with Rev. Bob Richards, voluble and intense, giving him a few tips on how to improve his vaulting form.
Back home in Tulare, the folks were following his every move. Said one admiring Tularean: "You know, we'd be just as proud sending Bob over to Helsinki even if he couldn't score a point. He's just a good American kid, and I think more Europeans should see a good American kid. We're mighty proud and loud about him." But no one in Tulare really thought that anything short of a broken arm could keep Bob Mathias from making them prouder still.
*These hagglings were mild in comparison to other how-de-dos of the past. Among the most notable: during the London games of 1908, staggering Italian Dorando Pietri was dragged across the finish line of the marathon by Britons wishful to see him beat the U.S.'s fast-closing Johnny Hayes. Dorando was helped to his feet four times in all, and Hayes, after an outraged American protest, was finally declared the winner. Afterwards, both turned "pro" and cashed in on the publicity with a marathon race at the old Madison Square Garden. Dorando won by 60 yards.
*Officially, no country "wins" the Olympic Games: there is no official team scoring system. The press has devised a quasi-official one, awarding points to the first six finishers on the basis: 10-5-4-3-2-1.
*In the pentathlon (five events), first introduced in 708 B.C., the best jumpers qualified for the spear throwing; the four best spear men qualified for the sprint; the three best sprinters threw the discus; the two finalists wrestled for the prize: a wreath of olive leaves. The Ancient Games, held every four years (an Olympiad) for nearly twelve centuries, first started near Athens in 776 B.C.
*During the 1912 Olympic prize presentation, Sweden's King Gustaf called Thorpe "the world's greatest athlete." Later, because it was found that Old Jim had played baseball for money, all his Olympic trophies and medals were taken away from him.