LONDON -- Harrison Dillard is back in London.
Dillard, the oldest living 100-meter Olympic champion, returned to the British capital for the games, only this time not as a lanky kid from Cleveland who came out of nowhere to win the gold in 1948.
Britain's Foreign Office honored the 89-year-old American in London on Wednesday and allowed Dillard to hold the 1948 Olympic torch again.
Dillard botched the hurdles that year but came back to win in the dash.
2012 London Olympics coverage
Dillard says his dream of becoming an Olympian began when he was a child and had the chance to meet Olympic legend and fellow Cleveland native, Jesse Owens.
The trail blazed by Owens was one Dillard happily followed.
Sixty-four years after standing atop the London medals podium Dillard made the trip back with his daughter.
His athletic career was interruped by a two-year stint serving in World War II. Dillard resumed his track career and after winning gold in London went on to win additional gold medals in Helsinki.
The Associated Press