Games of the XV Olympiad
The Soviet Union and Israel entered the Olympic Games for the first time. Although the Soviet Union athletes were housed in a separate “village”, warnings that Cold War rivalries would lead to clashes proved unfounded. Particularly impressive were the Soviet women gymnasts who won the team competition easily, beginning a streak that would continue for 40 years until the Soviet Union broke up into separate republics.
Canada’s lone gold medal of the 1952 Games was awarded to shooter George Genereux in the clay pigeon event. Weightlifter Gerald Gratton (75kg) and canoeists Don Hawgood and Ken Lane (C-2 10,000m) won silver medals.
