Two former Olympians will watch the opening ceremonies tonight and reflect on their own victories.

They played basketball in the 1952 Olympics in Finland, and returned to Peoria as heroes.
News 25's Gina Ford has more on the gold medalists.

In the early 1950s, Frank McCabe and Ron Bontemps found themselves in Peoria as Caterpillar employees and basketball players.

"It was amateur back then pure amateur," said McCabe.

The Caterpillar Diesels were part of the Amateur Athletic Union basketball league.
And in '52, the Diesels won the Olympic Basketball team playoffs taking them to Helsinki, Finland.

"I was just kinda like floating around, and couldn't believe all this stuff was happening to us," said Bontemps.

Thinking back on the journey more than 50 years ago, the two recall the tension between the Soviet Union and the U–S.

"The Russians, they had their own Olympic village.
Freedom was bad," said Bontemps.

"You didn't see a Russian player around without an official for fear that they were going to defect," said McCabe.

The Olympians describe the challenges playing the U–S–S–R in the final Olympic game...they say the rules of basketball were much different in the 50's.

"What they did was hold the ball. You know if you play ball and hold the ball, the other team doesn't get it," said Bontemps.

In fact one of the Russian players sat on the floor.

But the U–S ended up winning by 10 points and returned gold medalists and heroes.

"Peoria had a nice welcome for us," said Bontemps.

Now the Olympians reminisce as the Beijing games get underway...
Frank McCabe says he'll be sitting at home watching.

"Is the Pope Catholic? You darn right!" said McCabe.

Although their triumph was over a half century ago, they say they still have plenty of mementos to last a lifetime.
In Peoria, Gina Ford News 25.