A collection of original photographs by E.D. Lacey of the (XIX Olympiad) Mexico Summer Olympics, 1968... Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968 ..
Mexico City: 1968. 25 silver prints, mainly of running events; also a few of the winners.. Mostly 17 x 12cm...
Verso stamped on photographs: Photo by E.D., Lacey.."Swiss Cottage," Blackberry Lane, Four Marks, Near Alton, Hants. ..
Tel. Medstead 2539
Ed Lacey (E.D. Lacey) was a legendary British sports and Olympic photographer renowned for his iconic coverage of mid-20th-century athletics, including the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Games. He shot for Popperfoto, capturing historic sporting moments, and his legacy is honored annually through the SJA's Ed Lacey Trophy…. Lacey began his photographic career with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War…..
Historic Coverage: Lacey is best known for immortalizing seminal Olympic moments, such as Dick Fosbury’s revolutionary "Fosbury Flop" high jump in 1968….
Collections: His vintage Olympic press prints are highly collectible…..
British sports photographer Ed Lacey (born 1916, died 1976) was renowned for covering athletics, rugby, and six Olympic Games from 1960 through 1972. He began his photographic career relatively late at age 44, forging an extensive, award-winning legacy as a photojournalist for The Observer and Popperfoto…..
After demobilisation, he joined Cable and Wireless but continued to take pictures for the South London Press before receiving a commission from the Daily Mirror. The Rome Games of 1960 were the first Olympics that he covered.
Verso stamped on photographs: Mark Shearman, 23 Lynwood Drive, Worcester Park, Surrey....
High Altitude.....
The choice of Mexico City to host the 1968 Olympic Games proved to be a controversial one because of the city's high altitude above sea level: 2,300m. It was the first times the Games had taken place in Latin America, and the altitude proved an advantage in the events which needed a brief, but intense effort, such as short-distance running (up to 800m), jumping, throwing and weightlifting. But the rarefied air proved disastrous for those competing in endurance events that lasted longer than two minutes, such as long-distance and middle-distance running, swimming and cycling.....
Records Tumble....
The high altitude led to world records in all of the men’s races that were 400m or shorter, plus the long jump and triple jump. Probably the most memorable achievement was Bob Beamon’s spectacular long jump of 8.90m—a world record that would last for 22 years.
Olympic Firsts....
Mexican hurdler Enriqueta Basilio became the first woman to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. Wyomia Tyus of the U.S. became the first athlete to win the 100m twice. Dick Fosbury won the men’s high jump with a new jumping style now known as the “Fosbury Flop”, and for the first time, winners had to undergo a doping test (narcotics, stimulants). Item #51-7259
Price: $950.00