Elspeth Graham

Elspeth deserves to be a torch-bearer as she missed out on her last opportunity to participate in the london Olympics. She was a sprinter, who was injured practicing baton changes for the 4x100yards. She ended up watching from the stands. She regained fitness and represnted GB in the 1952 European Championships, where she came 5th in the individual event, and the squad won the gold medal. At the age of 81, she has volunteered for the WRVS for nearly 40 years. She is a befriender for lonely, housebound people. She works during the summer months as a tour-guide at a local stately home. She regularly swims and attends aquasize classes, and participates in curling during the winter months. I think she deserves the chance to be a flag bearer for the older generationI went to the 1948 Olympics and saw Fanny Blankers-Koen win 4 golds. I was overweight & unfit following an illness. She inspired me to run . 2 years I later I won a Gold Medal for GB in the 4x100m at the European Championships - beating my heroine.