***Strictly embargoed until 00.01hrs GMT 24th May 2012***

The new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography—published on Thursday 24 May 2012—discovers the life stories of pioneering British Olympians, as well as the Londoners behind some well-known aspects of metropolitan life.
The new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography—published on Thursday 24 May 2012—discovers the life stories of pioneering British Olympians, as well as the Londoners behind some well-known aspects of metropolitan life.

Among the 40 Olympians and sporting figures now added are:

· dance teacher, Maureen Gardner (1928-1974), who won silver in the sprint hurdles at the 1948 London Olympics. Her race ended in a photo-finish and was described as ‘as good a second place as was ever perhaps recorded in athletics’.
· Spitfire ace Don Finlay (1909-1970), an Olympic medallist in 1932 and 1936, who took the Olympic oath on behalf of the competitors at the 1948 London Games, when he...