Altitude can do very strange things to the body. At any other venue Lillian would have beaten the rest of that field at a canter but she tied up awfully going down that final straight. I think she would have won the gold in Munich and Montreal given her age. All of which makes her untimely death all the harder to take.
[Continuing on from my previous 'post' about Miss Lillian Board]: is - monstrously unfair. I hope that Miss Board will always be remembered - even many centuries from now - as one of the great British sportswomen of the 20th century. God rest her soul.
The tragic death of Miss Lillian Board in December 1970 - just a few days after her 22nd birthday - proved that physical fitness is not the same thing as health. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there is no connection between fitness and health. Miss Board was unquestionably one of the fittest, most athletic women in Europe - indeed the whole world. Yet she was cruelly struck down by terminal cancer right at the beginning of her adult life ...... life can be - and very often
Miss Lillian Board ...... a very talented (and ill-fated) athlete. Who knows what she might have gone on to achieve at the 1971 'Europeans' and '72 Olympics if she hadn't been struck down by a terminal illness.
It is incredible to contemplate that Miss Board was probably already suffering from cancer in September 1969, when she won a Gold medal in the 800 metres at the European Championships in Athens. She passed away just 15 short months later, on Boxing Day, 1970. God rest her soul.
@BaumerPaulGefreiter F**k off, you gobs****. That is a terrible thing to say. Lillian Board was a clean athlete (as well as being a highly talented and successful one). Shame on you for trying to tarnish the reputation of such a brilliant - and ill-fated - sportswoman; some 40 years after her premature and tragic death from cancer, at the very early age of 22. God rest Miss Board's soul.
Absolutely agree - no comparison between that cheat Flo-Jo and Lilian Board. What asad death Lilian's was at 21. Not self-inflicted like Yankie cheat win at all costs Joyner
Strange how even as a kid of 11 Lillian Board still had an enormous effect on me when she passed away, I still remember her being called the golden girl of british athletics, she will never be forgotten.....
@Nickyootoob - Not sure about that. I believe the plan was to finish after the '72 Olympics. Would been one of our best female athletes ever, probably the No 1, had she been able to have a full career and fufil her huge potential. Despite what she achieved, there's no way we saw the best of her.
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it.
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
Awesome movie! Im a 68 Olympian collecting photos and movies from all my teammates to assemble on to DVDs for everyone, and we would be absolutely thrilled to have permission from you to include a copy of your movie in our 68 Olympic Team Photoshare Project DVDs! Please click reply to my comment here if this would be POSSIBLE or NOT possible, THANK YOU!
The girl who had everything! My heart bleeds for her and I am sure there are millions out there who will never forget her. I can't forget the "revenge match" with Besson in the 4x400 in Athens the following year. RIP Lillian
It can't be emphasised enough how popular Lillian Board was at that time, truly the Golden Girl of British Athletics. The whole nation was in a state of disbelief when she came second in the Olympic final. Everyone felt her hurt personally. Even now just watching the video I felt myself urging her to stay ahead of Besson.
Anyone remember David Coleman commentating on a Womens 400n race not long after Lillans death. At the finish he shouts the name 'Board'. I'm sure I didn't imagine it.
i think it was the women's 4 x 400 at The Euopeans in Athens 1969 with Board and Besson running anchor legs.
Role reversal - in this race Besson went out like a scalded cat for 250 metres with Board holding back. Then Lillian started to reel back the deficit. Metre by metre - inch by inch. Coleman was so excited that his last 4 words in the race were Board Board Borad Board..... it was on u-tube , might still be!!!!
Besson died on Aug 9, 2005 of throat cancer [1], two years after being diagnosed with the disease. She was survived by her husband Jean-Pierre Muller and their two daughters, Sandrine and Stéphanie.
I beg your pardon or to differ (becknook1) -Florence Griffith-Joyner cut her european tour short in 1988 before the Olympics because she was booed of the track in Truin, Italy - by the ever knowledgeable European track fans who knew she was on steriods. I don't even she why you who even mention her name in a conversation about Lillian Board ? Florence was a cheat ... Lillian was pure...
What a great loss, I also think of Florence Griffith-Joyner also known as Flo Jo who died at 38, both these athletes were loved on both sides of the Atlantic.
Altitude can do very strange things to the body. At any other venue Lillian would have beaten the rest of that field at a canter but she tied up awfully going down that final straight. I think she would have won the gold in Munich and Montreal given her age. All of which makes her untimely death all the harder to take.
wellbourne1 1 week ago
Alf Tupper and Lillian Board... the king and queen of British athletics.
clivedxb 1 month ago
[Continuing on from my previous 'post' about Miss Lillian Board]: is - monstrously unfair. I hope that Miss Board will always be remembered - even many centuries from now - as one of the great British sportswomen of the 20th century. God rest her soul.
TheEctomorph 5 months ago
The tragic death of Miss Lillian Board in December 1970 - just a few days after her 22nd birthday - proved that physical fitness is not the same thing as health. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there is no connection between fitness and health. Miss Board was unquestionably one of the fittest, most athletic women in Europe - indeed the whole world. Yet she was cruelly struck down by terminal cancer right at the beginning of her adult life ...... life can be - and very often
TheEctomorph 5 months ago
Miss Lillian Board ...... a very talented (and ill-fated) athlete. Who knows what she might have gone on to achieve at the 1971 'Europeans' and '72 Olympics if she hadn't been struck down by a terminal illness.
It is incredible to contemplate that Miss Board was probably already suffering from cancer in September 1969, when she won a Gold medal in the 800 metres at the European Championships in Athens. She passed away just 15 short months later, on Boxing Day, 1970. God rest her soul.
TheEctomorph 5 months ago
Colette Besson also was much loved in France and died way too young at the age of 50, I think.
borninparis 7 months ago 3
cant belive that anyone can compare lillan with flo-jo! lillan was natural talent not doped!
markguest36 7 months ago 3
@RabCGiblet - Agreed. What a lovely woman she was. I believe her fiancee eventually married Lillian's twin sister.
bkey88 9 months ago
Collette Besson The First !
valjean1ful 9 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Amphetamine abuse, I guess. (as far as Board is concerned)
BaumerPaulGefreiter 11 months ago
@BaumerPaulGefreiter F**k off, you gobs****. That is a terrible thing to say. Lillian Board was a clean athlete (as well as being a highly talented and successful one). Shame on you for trying to tarnish the reputation of such a brilliant - and ill-fated - sportswoman; some 40 years after her premature and tragic death from cancer, at the very early age of 22. God rest Miss Board's soul.
TheEctomorph 5 months ago
Absolutely agree - no comparison between that cheat Flo-Jo and Lilian Board. What asad death Lilian's was at 21. Not self-inflicted like Yankie cheat win at all costs Joyner
msrseps2 1 year ago
Strange how even as a kid of 11 Lillian Board still had an enormous effect on me when she passed away, I still remember her being called the golden girl of british athletics, she will never be forgotten.....
sxitezza 1 year ago 3
@sxitezza Very well said; very well said indeed.
TheEctomorph 5 months ago
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Naughty Ladies waiting for some one mworld5.info
neharap 1 year ago
Collette Besson won this race. Not Lillian Board.
papmjny 1 year ago
The situation was reversed a year later when Colette Besson went off too early and Lilian Board caught her.
What a sad loss. She was taken from us too early.
Nice touch at the Sydney games though. One of the streets in the athlete's village was called Lilian Board Street.
She will not be forgotten.
wkbfutewc 1 year ago 2
@wkbfutewc
papmjny 1 year ago
@wkbfutewc Collette Besson won this race. Not Lillian Board.
papmjny 1 year ago
@papmjny
Lilian Board won beat Besson in the relay race in 1969. This was 1968.
wkbfutewc 1 year ago
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@papmjny
Lilian Board beat Besson in the relay race in 1969. This was 1968.
wkbfutewc 1 year ago
Corrr..! That French girl had a finish on her, didn't she?
madmax8903 1 year ago
Board would have been of the best British athletes of the 1970s, I'm sure of it. She would have competed right up to Moscow 1980...
Nickyootoob 1 year ago
@Nickyootoob - Not sure about that. I believe the plan was to finish after the '72 Olympics. Would been one of our best female athletes ever, probably the No 1, had she been able to have a full career and fufil her huge potential. Despite what she achieved, there's no way we saw the best of her.
Dazzler23 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
MrWFD55 1 year ago
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it.
MrWFD55 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
MrWFD55 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
MrWFD55 1 year ago
On a school day trip to Crystal Palace in 1969, I spotted Lillian sitting by herself in the stands and got her autograph. She thanked me as she signed. I still have it. I've seen the 1968 400m many times before but only now have spotted Colette potentially running on the inside line at around the 100m point. Is she?
MrWFD55 1 year ago
Awesome movie! Im a 68 Olympian collecting photos and movies from all my teammates to assemble on to DVDs for everyone, and we would be absolutely thrilled to have permission from you to include a copy of your movie in our 68 Olympic Team Photoshare Project DVDs! Please click reply to my comment here if this would be POSSIBLE or NOT possible, THANK YOU!
CheckAvai1abi1ity 1 year ago
Still brings happy memories from over 40 years ago.... but so tragic too....
jboy46 2 years ago 3
Britains greatest silver medalist.
clivetemple 2 years ago 2
The girl who had everything! My heart bleeds for her and I am sure there are millions out there who will never forget her. I can't forget the "revenge match" with Besson in the 4x400 in Athens the following year. RIP Lillian
jokergame 2 years ago 6
a true great sadly missed
selby16 2 years ago 6
.sad to see the european championship relay of 1969 which Lilian won for Britain has been removed....
chatham43 2 years ago 2
Yes, that and 600 videos put up by the same person. Don't know what happened but it's a real pity as it was a great collection.
Shrubb1879 2 years ago
R.I.P Lillian - one of the greats !!!
vicsmith5000 2 years ago 4
It can't be emphasised enough how popular Lillian Board was at that time, truly the Golden Girl of British Athletics. The whole nation was in a state of disbelief when she came second in the Olympic final. Everyone felt her hurt personally. Even now just watching the video I felt myself urging her to stay ahead of Besson.
Anyone remember David Coleman commentating on a Womens 400n race not long after Lillans death. At the finish he shouts the name 'Board'. I'm sure I didn't imagine it.
colmalbar 2 years ago 2
i think it was the women's 4 x 400 at The Euopeans in Athens 1969 with Board and Besson running anchor legs.
Role reversal - in this race Besson went out like a scalded cat for 250 metres with Board holding back. Then Lillian started to reel back the deficit. Metre by metre - inch by inch. Coleman was so excited that his last 4 words in the race were Board Board Borad Board..... it was on u-tube , might still be!!!!
londonbangkok 2 years ago
Besson died on Aug 9, 2005 of throat cancer [1], two years after being diagnosed with the disease. She was survived by her husband Jean-Pierre Muller and their two daughters, Sandrine and Stéphanie.
Metron65 2 years ago 2
RIP Lillian Board and RIP Collette Besson.
I do not know much about Collette Besson at all, only that she pipped Lillian at the post in the 1968 400m Olympic final.
Watching the video brings home just how good and talented Lillian was and just how incredible Collette's run was to beat her.
I have admired Lillian Board for many years, even after her death her spirit remains - what an inspiration!
Bless them both
1Lotusflower 2 years ago 7
If seeded lanes existed back in 1968 then she surely would have won.
creswellcraggs 3 years ago 3
Yes, she ran the fastest time in the semi-finals and was very unlucky to be drawn in lane 1. System is fairer nowadays.
Dazzler23 2 years ago
She was an inspiration!!! Always remembered....!!!!!
psychicnewsguy 3 years ago 2
I beg your pardon or to differ (becknook1) -Florence Griffith-Joyner cut her european tour short in 1988 before the Olympics because she was booed of the track in Truin, Italy - by the ever knowledgeable European track fans who knew she was on steriods. I don't even she why you who even mention her name in a conversation about Lillian Board ? Florence was a cheat ... Lillian was pure...
karrtt1234 3 years ago 2
What a great loss, I also think of Florence Griffith-Joyner also known as Flo Jo who died at 38, both these athletes were loved on both sides of the Atlantic.
becknook1 3 years ago
I dont think Flo-Jo was loved at all! She was undre GREAT suspicion. There is no comparison with Lillian Board!
athlete5399 3 years ago 11
@athlete5399 yea, being an american i hate to admit it,but i think flo jo might of had a little bit of help in the 1988 season and olympic games!
TheTzdope 1 year ago
Lillian was gorgeous. I remember the sadness of Boxing Day 1970 like yesterday.
ysgol3 3 years ago 3
I didn't mean she did. I was just mentioning the rule. Whoever crosses the line, no matter if one hundredth or less, has all the credit.
SerchWagnerianBear 3 years ago
Yes, to be very close, but without steping on it. That results on disqualification, at least according to today's rules
SerchWagnerianBear 3 years ago
Colette Besson, the gold medal winner, also died of cancer in 2005.
zim83 3 years ago