50 stunning Olympic moments: Don Thompson's 1960 Walking gold – in pictures

After dehydration derailed his medal ambitions in the 1956 Olympics, Don Thompson was determined not to fail in the same way in Rome. As part of his preparations for the blistering heat in Rome, he recreated the humidity of the Italian capital in his parent's bathroom in Cranford, Middlesex. Using heaters, stoves and steaming pots of water the temperature would reach 49C (120F) and after donning his tracksuit and his mother's anorak he'd walk around the tiny bathroom and exercise on the spot Photograph: Ernest Allen/Daily Mail/Rex Features

Ahead of his race, Thompson relaxed and saved his energy. "Most of the time was spent resting on my bed or in deck chairs in the shade of the buildings," he wrote. "Just summoning up enough strength for a journey to the restaurant to eat light meals." Come race day he was still conserving his energy. When the gun went off for the start of the 50km race, most of the walkers steamed off during their lap of the stadium, showing off to the crowd. Thompson kept to his usual pace and was one of the last to leave the stadium. By the time the athletes reached the Vittoriano, Thompson, wearing number 39, was back in the midst of the pack Photograph: Mondadori via Getty Images

At 20km Thompson was in fifth position and found himself in a quandary - he felt the pace was too fast. It was here that fate came to his aid: of the four athletes ahead of him, two were called for lifting and two wilted in the 31C (88F) heat, leaving Thompson alone in the lead Photograph: Central Press/Getty Images

However he was eventually caught by the veteran Swede John Ljungren, left, who had won gold in London 12 years earlier and was about to turn 41 Photograph: Central Press/Getty Images

They were more or less locked together for the rest of the race, but the Swede was taking longer and longer at each drinking station ... Photograph: Central Press/Getty Images

Thompson entered the stadium ahead of him but by just 100 yards Photograph: Mondadori via Getty Images

The Brit managed to keep ahead of Ljungren as they circled the stadium and he broke the tape to win in 4hrs 25 min 30 seconds – 17 seconds ahead of Ljungren – thus setting a new Olympic record Photograph: Central Press/Getty Images

The magnitude of the performance by the 5ft 5in athlete meant he was christened Il Topolino – Mighty Mouse – by the Italians though the British preferred the Mighty Atom Photograph: AP

Thompson, pictured here receiving his medal from the Marquess of Exeter, was the only Briton to win an athletic gold in Rome Photograph: AP