The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, is underway in Paris. The same city hosted the VIII Olympiad a century ago.
This year we mark and celebrate Henry Stallard’s determination and achievement in winning a bronze medal for Great Britain in 1924.
Stallard became an ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital. World famous as a surgeon, scientist, army doctor, author, artist and athlete, he could be the most multi-talented of modern-day ophthalmologists.
He competed in the 1500 metres, coming third, despite a stress fracture of his foot. As he crossed the finishing line, he collapsed in agony and lost consciousness for a quarter of an hour. On coming round, his first words were: “Sorry, Philip, for the very bad show”. The race was won by Paavo Nurmi, known as ‘The Flying Finn’ in a world record time.
Henry Stallard’s Olympic bronze medal and his numerous other medals are on display in the Moorfields Museum in the Joint Library of Ophthalmology (address: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL).
Patients and members of the public can view Henry's medal at the library by appointment only by emailing ophthlib@ucl.ac.uk, with at least a day's notice provided. The library is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists documentary film, "The Olympian Ophthalmologist", is the biography of Henry Stallard. Watch the documentary here and read more about Stallard here.
30 July 2024