Olympic countdown: 23 days

How Eleanor Holm regretted the 23 June, 1936

Eleanor Holm regretted the events of 23 July, 1936 which denied her the chance of a second 100m backstroke gold.

The American had won the event four years earlier in Los Angeles and was once again favourite to come out on top at the Berlin Games.

But Holm paid the price for too much partying on the SS Manhattan taking the American team across the Atlantic.

After shouting obscenities out of the porthole while drunk on 23 July, she was promptly removed from US team.

Holm went to the cabin of the team manager to plead her case but to no avail.

And despite more than half of the US team signing a petition to have her re-instated, officials refused to buckle over their decision.

The news caused a sensation when the ship docked in Hamburg and details of the night in question were revealed.

But even though Holm did not get to participate in the Olympics that year, she was entertained by the Nazis as a special visitor.

The final of the 100m backstroke itself was itself not without drama.

Dina Senff beat Dutch compatriot Hendrika Mastenbroek after the latter had become entangled in the lane ropes.