Harold Abrahams' 100 metres triumph in the 1924 Olympics is surely the best chronicled athletics performance ever after it was immortalised in the Oscar-winning 1981 film Chariots of Fire.

Although his achievement was exaggerated by artistic licence, there can be no doubt that in an amateur era the Briton was way ahead with his dedication and professionalism.

Indeed it was the latter trait - Abrahams employed his coach Sam Mussabini - which raise eyebrows among the establishment's blue blazer brigade.

Encouraged by his elder brother Sidney - himself an accomplished athlete who competed in the 1908 and 1912 Games - the Bedford-born sprinter pursued his dream.

Like everyone else Abrahams the Paris Games would be dominated by the American contingent who arrived in France as firm favourites for the majority of titles.

But Abrahams - as well Eric Liddell who won the 400m - drove a spear through the hearts of the American sprinters.

After cruising through the first round heats, Abrahams stole the limelight when he ran an Olympic and British record time of 10.6sec in the second heat.

The 24-year-old had showed his cards early to the United States favourites, Jackson Scholz, Chester Bowman and Loren Murchison.

He again equalled that time in his semi-final a day later and for the first time - during a wait of almost four hours before the final began - finally began to believe in himself.

Nervous and tense in the final but highly confident, his winning time of 10.6sec - again - saw him become the first European and only Englishman to take the sprint crown until Linford Christie's victory in 1992.

Abrahams, who in later life became president of the Amateur Athletic Association as well as a respected writer and broadcaster, attributed his success to hard and conscientious training under Mussabini's expert eye.

Certainly their team work sent a well-beaten Scholz sailing back to the States with a silver medal but wishing he had known more about Abrahams before his arrival.

Arthur Porritt made it a celebratory day for the Commonwealth, The New Zealander finished 0.1sec behind Scholz who clocked 10.8sec to win the bronze medal.

With his energy sapped Abrahams made it into the 200 metres final but finished last while Scholz won gold.

However, after the British 4x100m relay teams set a short-lived world record of 42.0sec in their heat, he collected a silver in a final won by the United States in a time of 41.2sec.