Scotland wins Olympic gold . . . 82 years later - The Herald

Web Issue 2448 January 23 2006
DOUG GILLON

A Scottish curling team has been designated Olympic champions more than 80 years after its victory on the ice.

It had previously been thought that the sport was a demonstration event at the 1924 Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, meaning that winners would not be considered to be medallists.

However, after an investigation by The Herald, curling’s competitive status has now been confirmed by the International Olympic Committee, which should lead to Britain’s official gold medal tally increasing by one.

The revelation of the hitherto unrecognised victory was greeted with a mixture of delight and astonishment by the British Olympic Association, whose chief executive, Simon Clegg, said: “I am fascinated, and amazed that huge authorities on the Olympics have not picked up on this.

“I’m very grateful to The Herald. The history books will need to be re-written.”

The son of Robin Welsh, who was one of the team members, died on Friday before learning his father had won Olympic gold.

Grandson Peter Welsh, who now has the medal, says he and his father, also Robin, had believed like everyone else that curling was a demonstration event.

“I had been looking forward to telling him about the Olympic gold medal, but never had the chance.”
The other team members selected by the Royal Caledonian Curling club were Willie and Laurence Jackson and Tom Murray.

* Read the full story by Doug Gillon in today’s sports tabloid

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