The women’s team event was marred by tragedy prior to the competition. The co-favorites were considered to be Czechoslovakia and Hungary, although there had been few international competitions since World War II had ended. Czechoslovakia brought two Misáková sisters – Eliska and Miloslava. But Eliska contracted poliomyelitis on arriving in England, and was quickly placed into an iron lung for four days at Uxbridge Isolation Hospital. She died on the day the women’s gymnastic event started. Czechoslovakia still competed and won the gold medal fairly easily over Hungary, with the United States taking bronze. Zdena Veřmiřovská was the leading scorer overall and for the Czechoslovak team. At the victory ceremony, the Czechoslovak flag was raised with a black border around it in mourning for Eliska.