Official diploma of the "London Olympic Games" awarded to Gaston Reiff, Belgium, 1948.

Official diploma of the "London Olympic Games" awarded to Gaston Reiff, Belgium, 1948.
Three signatures, including a very legible one of IOC President Edstorm.
Framed by a double wreath of olive and wheat.
Measurements: 44.5 x 57.5 cm; 50 x 63 cm (frame).

Official diploma awarded to an extraordinary Olympic champion, Gaston Reiff, who was an iconic Belgian athlete who won the gold medal in the 5000 meters at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. His victory remains famous because he defeated heavy favorites, in particular the Czech Emil Zátopek, who dominated the era.

This diploma is particularly important because it represents a highly symbolic historical testimony, belonging to the so-called "Austerity Games", the first to be held after the Second World War. These Games marked the return of the Olympic spirit in a context of global reconstruction, so any original object linked to them reflects not only a sporting achievement, but also a key moment of recovery and international hope. It is a document with a high documentary, historical and collectible value, especially because of its direct connection to an event that redefined the role of Olympism in the contemporary world.