'All roads lead to Rome' - Anita Lonsbrough remembers winning Olympic gold 65 years on
All roads lead to Rome and it was also in the iconic Italian city that Anita Lonsbrough made history in the summer of 1960.
It has been 65 years since Lonsbrough swam a world record time of 2:49.5 in the 200m breaststroke to pip German Wiltrud Urselman to Olympic gold in a gripping race to the finish.
Eight years later, her husband of 60 years and track cycling legend Hugh Porter won the first of his four gold medals in the World Championships in Rome.
The very mention of the city, which holds special memories for one of Wolverhampton's most celebrated sporting couples, brings an immediate smile to her face.
"Rome is a beautiful city at the best of times and the weather is always nice in the summer," Lonsbrough, now 84, chuckles.
"So everything goes forward to Rome. It's something special particularly as there were only two gold medals won by Britain that year and unfortunately Don Thompson is no longer with us.
"I'm the surviving one, but 65 years is a long time and it really does make me feel old.
"It was a great thing for the city. There was special accommodation being built for the competitors which was eventually turned into flats for the residents.
"I've been back many times working there covering events and every time you go they've added something different and more modern.
