He became a running star as the sport enjoyed a huge resurgence at the start of the Great Depression, fueled in large part by newsreel coverage.

His career was abruptly cut short when he was banned for life from track for payments he received for several races.

[3] In 1928, he started to run for Stade Français under famed coach Charles Poulenard, and his improvement was dramatic.

The latter time ranked Ladoumègue as third-fastest all-time over the distance and a favourite at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.

In the end, the battle came down to a race between Ladoumègue and two Finnish runners: Eino Purje and Harri Larva.

[1][4] Stung by criticism that he lacked the kick to win close races after his Olympic disappointment, Ladoumègue sought to prove the experts wrong.

Accordingly, he ran in several races in 1929 where he allowed the pace to slow, waiting for the homestretch to drive for the finish.

On 13 July he ran 3:53.8, then he avenged the humiliation he received the year before from Ellis by defeating him over the mile 4:15.2 to 4:20.2 in London on 2 August.

[3] The attempt was made 3 October on the 450-metre track at Stade Jean Bouin, near Ladoumègue's home in Paris.

Séra Martin and Jean Keller were pace-setters, and included in the field was an Italian then considered to be a mediocre runner - Luigi Beccali.

But Ladoumègue had conserved his strength for the final quarter, a strategy which delivered him the 1,500 m record the year before.

[2][3][4] Ladoumègue was now a national hero and a clear favourite to win gold in the 1500 m at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.