Sir, It is 40 years since the then leader in the two-man bobsled competition, Eugenio Monti, was told that the British team, driven by Tony Nash, had broken a bolt on the rear axle of their sled. Unhesitatingly, the Italian removed the bolt from his own sled and sent it to the top of the hill.
Great Britain won the gold and Eugenio Monti the first De Coubertin Medal for sportsmanship.
On Sunday the Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima, assaulted by a spectator while leading the Olympic marathon, displayed again the best of the Olympic spirit in his reaction to the events which had denied him a very real chance of gold (report, August 30). He too was rightly awarded what I believe should be regarded as the most precious medal that can be bestowed upon any Olympian.
Yours sincerely,
LEIGHTON VAUGHAN WILLIAMS,
(Professor of Economics and Finance),
Nottingham Trent University,
Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4BU.
August 30.