Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed as the host nation for the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. It was the second time that the United Kingdom had hosted the Summer Olympic Games, equalling the record of France and the United States to that point. British athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games. 404 competitors, 335 men and 68 women, took part in 139 events in 21 sports.
Medallists
|style="text-align:left;width:78%;vertical-align:top"| Medal Name Sport Event Date Bert Bushnell Rowing Men's double sculls Jack Wilson Rowing Men's coxless pair Stewart Morris Sailing Swallow Athletics Women's 100 metres Athletics Women's 80 metres hurdles Athletics Women's 200 metres Jack GregoryKen JonesAlastair McCorquodale Athletics Men's 4 × 100 metres relay Athletics Men's marathon Athletics Women's high jump Cycling Men's sprint Alan Bannister Cycling Men's tandem Paul BircherJack DearloveMichael LapageBrian LloydPaul MasseyAlfred MellowsJohn MeyrickGuy Richardson Rowing Men's eight Weightlifting Men's 56 kg Boxing Middleweight Boxing Light heavyweight Bob MaitlandIan ScottGordon Thomas Cycling Men's team road race Field hockeyMen's tournament Athletics Men's 50 kilometres walk Swimming Women's 400 metre freestyle Tommy GodwinDavid RickettsWilfred Waters Cycling Men's team pursuit Weightlifting Men's 67.5 kg Cycling Men's track time trial Harry LlewellynHenry Nicoll Equestrian Team jumping |style="text-align:left;width:22%;vertical-align:top"|
+ Medals by sportSportTotalRowing2103Sailing1001Athletics0617Cycling0325Boxing0202Weightlifting0112Field hockey0101Equestrian0011Swimming0011Art competitions0011Total314724
Athletics
Track & road events
Men AthleteEventHeat Quarter-finalSemi-finalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankMcDonald Bailey100 m10.51 Q10.62 Q10.63 Q10.816Ken Jones10.62 Q10.73 Q11.016Did not advanceAlastair McCorquodale10.52 Q10.52 Q10.73 Q10.614John Fairgrieve200 m22.22 Q4 did not advanceAlastair McCorquodale22.31 Q21.82 Q5 did not advancePaul Vallé22.31 Q22.13 Q6 did not advanceLeslie Lewis400 m48.91 Q49.24 did not advanceDerek Pugh49.32 Q48.85 did not advanceBill Roberts48.92 Q48.64 did not advanceJohn Parlett800 m1:55.02 Qcolspan=2 1:50.93 Q1:53.48Harry Tarraway1:56.64 Qcolspan=2 DNF did not advanceTom White1:56.62 Qcolspan=2 1:53.05 did not advanceRichard Morris1500 mcolspan=4 3:55.86 did not advanceBill Nankevillecolspan=4 3:55.82 Q 3:52.66Doug Wilsoncolspan=4 3:54.85 did not advanceJack Braughton5000 mcolspan=4 8 did not advanceBill Lucascolspan=4 7 did not advanceAlec Olneycolspan=4 7 did not advanceStan Cox10,000 mcolspan=6 31:08.07Steve McCookecolspan=6 Not placedJim Peterscolspan=6 31:16.08Raymond Barkway110 m hurdles15.534colspan=2 did not advanceJoe Birrell17.294colspan=2 did not advanceDon Finlay DNFcolspan=2 did not advanceMichael Pope400 m hurdlescolspan=2 55.34 did not advanceRon Unsworthcolspan=2 55.13 did not advanceHarry Whittlecolspan=2 56.91 Q53.44 did not advancePeter Curry3000 m steeplechase7colspan=4 did not advanceRene Howell7colspan=4 did not advanceGeoffrey Tudor9colspan=4 did not advanceJack ArcherJack GregoryKen JonesAlastair McCorquodale4 × 100 m relay41.41 Qcolspan=4 41.3Leslie LewisMartin PikeDerek PughBill Roberts4 × 400 m relay3:14.23colspan=4 did not advanceJack HoldenMarathoncolspan=6 did not finishStan Jonescolspan=6 3:09:16.030Tom Richardscolspan=6 2:35:07.6Harry Churcher10 km walk45:03.01 Qcolspan=4 47:28.05Jim Morris45:10.42 Qcolspan=4 46:04.04Ronald West45:44.43 Qcolspan=4 7Tebbs Lloyd Johnson50 km walkcolspan=6 4:48:31Herbert Martineaucolspan=6 4:53:585Rex Whitlockcolspan=6 did not finish
Women AthleteEventHeat Semi-finalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankDoris Batter100 m12.61 Q4 did not advanceWinifred Jordan12.72 Q5Did not advanceDorothy Manley12.11 Q12.41 Q12.2Sylvia Cheeseman200 m25.72 Q25.14 did not advanceMargaret Walker25.82 Q25.33 Q25.65Audrey Williamson25.41 Q24.92 Q25.1Bertha Crowther80 m hurdles5 did not advanceMaureen Gardner11.61 Q11.83 Q11.2Joan Upton4 did not advanceMaureen GardnerDorothy ManleyMuriel PlettsMargaret Walker4 × 100 m relay48.41 Qcolspan=2 48.04
Field events Men
AthleteEventQualification FinalResultRankResultRankAdegboyega Folaranmi AdedoyinLong jump7.1407 q7.2705Harry Askew7.1306 q6.9359Harry Whittle7.03010 q7.0307Sidney CrossTriple jump13.45525 did not advanceRobert Hawkey26 did not advanceAllan Lindsay13.70024 did not advanceAdegboyega Folaranmi AdedoyinHigh jump1.871 Q1.9012Alan Paterson1.871 Q1.907Ron Pavitt1.8027 did not advanceRichard WebsterPole vault3.6017 did not advanceJohn GilesShot put14.7955 Q13.7311Harold Moody13.40019 did not advanceJack BrewerDiscus throw41.9521 did not advanceJames Nesbitt42.0919 did not advanceLaurence Reavell-Carter38.0425 did not advanceMorville ChoteJavelin throw54.8419 did not advanceMalcolm Dalrymple53.1721 did not advanceDuncan ClarkHammer throw49.7611 Q48.3511Ewan Douglas47.7716 did not advanceNorman Drake47.7517 did not advance
Women
AthleteEventQualification FinalResultRankResultRankMargaret ErskineLong jump5.14019 did not advanceLorna Lee5.12020 did not advanceJoan Shepherd5.00523 did not advanceBertha CrowtherHigh jumpcolspan=2 1.586Dora Gardnercolspan=2 1.558Dorothy Tylercolspan=2 1.68Margaret BirtwistleShot put9.74019 did not advanceBevis Reid12.5703 Q12.1708Elspeth Whyte10.75517 did not advanceMargaret BirtwistleDiscus throwcolspan=2 33.0219Bevis Reidcolspan=2 35.8414Elspeth Whytecolspan=2 32.4620Gladys ClarkeJavelin throwcolspan=2 29.5915Kay Longcolspan=2 30.2914
Basketball
Team roster
Preliminary Round (Group A) Lost to Uruguay (17-69) Lost to Canada (24-44) Lost to Brazil (11-67) Lost to Italy (28-49) Lost to Hungary (23-60) Classification Matches 17th/23rd place: Defeated Ireland (46-21) 17th/20th place: Lost to China (25-54) 19th/20th place: Lost to Egypt (18-50) → 20th place
Boxing
AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankHenry CarpenterFlyweightL did not advanceTommy ProffittBantamweightL did not advancePeter BranderFeatherweightL did not advanceRon CooperLightweightWL did not advanceMax ShackladyWelterweightWL did not advanceJohnny WrightMiddleweightWWWWLDon ScottLight heavyweightWWWLJack GardnerHeavyweightWL did not advance
Canoeing
AthleteEventHeatsFinalTimeRankTimeRankHarold MaidmentMen's C-1 1000 mcolspan=2 6:37.06Mike SymonsHugh Van ZwanenbergMen's C-2 1000 mcolspan=2 5:50.97Norman DobsonMen's K-1 1000 m5:00.18 did not advanceNorman DobsonMen's K-1 1000 m5:00.18 did not advanceJack HendersonJohn SimmonsMen's K-2 1000 m4:45.07 did not advanceJoyce RichardsWomen's K-1 500 m3:00.15 did not advance
Cycling
Ten cyclists, all men, represented Great Britain in 1948.
Road AthleteEventTimeRankErnie ClementsIndividual road race did not finishBob Maitland5:18:16.26Ian Scott5:26:57.216Gordon Thomas5:18:18.28Ernie ClementsBob MaitlandIan ScottGordon ThomasTeam road race16:03:31.6
Track
Time trial AthleteEventTimeRankTommy GodwinTime trial1:15.0
Sprint, tandem and pursuit AthleteEventRound 1RepechageRound 2QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeRankReg HarrisSprintW 2:17.0W 1:31.7W 2:39.8W 2:13.0W 4:43.8W 2:24.4LLAlan BannisterReg HarrisTandemW 5:37.9W 7:57.8W 6:06.4W 3:56.6LLAlan GeldardTommy GodwinDavid RickettsWilfred WatersTeam pursuitW 5:12.7colspan=2 W 5:02.9L 4:59.1Bronze medal raceW 4:55.8
Diving
Men AthleteEventPointsRankPeter J. Elliott3 m springboard91.2323Peter Heatly111.7313Charles Johnson105.3218Peter Heatly10 m platform105.295Louis Marchant96.1111Gordon Ward88.9618
Women AthleteEventPointsRankEdna Child3 m springboard91.636Kay Cuthbert72.4014Esme Harris74.1013Margaret Bisbrown10 m platform53.9510Maire Hider52.3112Denise Newman53.5011
Equestrian
Eventing AthleteHorseEventDressageCross-countryJumpingPenaltiesRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesTotalRankLyndon BoltonSylvesteIndividual -109.009 -72.00 -181.0034 -1.00 -182.00 27Peter BorwickLiberty -167.004087.00 -80.0020 -0.25 -80.25 17Douglas StewartDark Seal -116.0018 RetiredLyndon BoltonPeter BorwickDouglas StewartSee aboveTeam -392.00 8 Eliminated
Jumping AthleteHorseEventFinalPenaltiesRankArthur CarrGazelleIndividual35.0019Harry LlewellynGazelle16.00=7Henry NicollGazelle16.00=7Arthur CarrHarry LlewellynHenry NicollSee aboveTeam67.00
Fencing
19 fencers, 16 men and 3 women, represented Great Britain in 1948.
Men AthleteEventRound 1QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalsWinsLossesRankWinsLossesRankWinsLossesRankWinsLossesRankCharles de BeaumontIndividual épée 5 2 3 Q 4 3 4 did not advanceRonald Parfitt 3 3 2 Q 4 1 2 Q 6 2 1 Q 2 7 10Albert Pelling 5 0 1 Q 2 4 5 did not advanceCharles de BeaumontTerry BeddardArchibald CraigMichael McCreadyRonald ParfittAlbert PellingTeam épée 1 0 2 Q 0 3 4 did not advanceJohn Emrys LloydIndividual foil 5 1 1 Q 5 1 2 Q 4 2 4 Q 4 3 4René Paul 5 1 1 Q 3 4 5 did not advanceArthur Smith 4 3 4 Q 2 4 6 did not advanceHarold CookeJohn Emrys LloydRené PaulArthur SmithPierre TurquetLuke WendonTeam foil 1 0 1 Q 1 1 2 Q 0 2 3 did not advanceRobin BrookIndividual sabre 3 2 3 Q 3 4 5 did not advanceArthur Pilbrow 3 3 5 did not advanceRoger Tredgold 4 1 1 Q 3 4 5 did not advanceRobin BrookJohn Emrys LloydGeorge MooreArthur PilbrowRoger TredgoldTeam sabre 0 0 1 Q 0 2 3 did not advance
Women AthleteEventRound 1QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalsWinsLossesRankWinsLossesRankWinsLossesRankWinsLossesRankBetty Carnegy-ArbuthnottIndividual foil 1 4 5 did not advanceMary Glen-Haig 5 1 2 Q 5 0 1 Q 3 2 3 Q 1 6 8Gytte Minton 1 4 4 Q 3 2 3 Q 0 5 5 did not advance
Football
Summary
TeamFirst roundQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankGreat Britain men'sW 4–3 (A.E.T.)W 1–0L 1–3Bronze medal finalL 3–54
Gymnastics
The British Gymnastics team competed in nine events and was made up of 16 gymnasts, (8 men and 8 women), including Frank Turner and George Weedon.
Hockey
Summary
TeamEventGroup stageSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankGreat Britain men'sMen's tournament D 0–0 W 11–0 W 8–0 1 W 2–0 L 0–4
Team roster
Group stage
Semifinals
Gold medal match
Lacrosse
Modern pentathlon
Three male pentathletes represented Great Britain in 1948.
AthleteEventRiding(Show jumping)Fencing(Épée one touch)Shooting(rapid-fire pistol, 20 shots)Swimming(300 m freestyle)Running(4000 m)TotalPenaltiesRankWinsRankHitsScoreRankTimeRankTimeRankPointsRankGeoffrey BrookeModern pentathlon 143.5 39 20 13 18 153 41 6:29.6 37 15:48.4 15 145 37Jack Lumsden 0.0 3 14 34 19 167 37 6:31.3 38 16:10.7 20 132 34Andy Martin 4.0 12 15 31 20 182 23 5:33.4 31 15:40.7 11 108 20
Rowing
Great Britain had 26 male rowers participate in all seven rowing events in 1948.
AthleteEventHeatRepechageQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankAntony RoweSingle sculls7:30.51 Qcolspan=2 colspan=2 8:22.83 did not advanceDickie BurnellBert BushnellDouble sculls 6:56.9 2 1 Qcolspan=2 7:55.7 1 Q 6:51.3 Ran LaurieJack WilsonCoxless pair 7:20.3 1 Qcolspan=2 colspan=2 8:05.9 1 Q 7:21.1 Howard JamesMark ScottDavid WalkerCoxed pair 8:06.8 2 8:01.7 2colspan=2 did not advanceTony ButcherTom ChristiePeter KirkpatrickHank RushmereCoxless four 6:37.0 1 Qcolspan=2 colspan=2 7:16.3 2 did not advanceRobert CollinsJohn HealeyWilliam LeckieAnthony PurssellWilliam WoodwardCoxed four 7:01.9 2 6:58.4 1 Q 7:36.6 2 did not advanceChristopher BartonPaul BircherJack DearloveMichael LapageBrian LloydPaul MasseyAlfred MellowsJohn MeyrickGuy RichardsonEight 6:05.3 1 Qcolspan=2 colspan=2 6:38.1 1 Q 6:06.9
Sailing