Limping to greatness

“When I was seven I decided that I wanted to get into athletics because I really enjoyed it. My growing up years were good. I was good at sports as well. I used to train at least three times a week and when I got more serious and became a professional I trained seven days a week!” recalls Derek Redmond of his childhood that evidently held the roots to eventual sporting glory. But Redmond’s life was to define something greater: courage.

The British record holder of the fastest run from 1987 to 1992, and gold medal winner in the 4x400 m relay at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games in ’86 and ‘87, Redmond was amongst the favourites at 1988 Olympics. Braving a string of injuries, he showed up at the Games, only to have to withdraw minutes before the 400m heat owing to a troublesome tendon in the heel. A marathon eight operations and grueling training schedule later, he returned to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics hoping to make up for all the heartache in Seoul.

There were about 60,000 people that day along with Derek’s dad, Jim Redmond, in attendance. Derek stood on track five and braced himself for the sound of gunfire. Getting off to a good start, Derek may well have been closing in on his Olympic dream when, 200m into the race, he felt his hamstring snap.

“When the hamstring pulled, I was in a lot of pain; I hit the track and I decided to get up and try and catch the other guys so that I could qualify. But that obviously didn’t happen. With 100 meters to go, my dad came up to the track and tried to stop me but I figured I wanted to finish the race. I got back in the lane, and I got to the finish line and really that was it.” That was it with Derek’s athletic career too, after the fateful race, but the sight of a teary-eyed Derek telling off the medical crew and hobbling to the finish line – his father for crutch – is one of the most enduring moments in the history of the Games.

Back then though, a certain section of the media chose to report it as a display of ‘histrionics’, but Derek was unfazed. “I was a sportsman and I wanted to win a medal and I didn’t. I wasn’t thinking about the crowd or the media.”   

Two years into his forced retirement from athletics after the Barcelona games, Derek went on to secure a place in the GB basketball team and even indulged in the very physical sport of rugby. The one thing he emphasizes in his motivation talks around the world is to “never give up”. Coming from him, that won’t need a reminder.