Derek Redmond may not have won a medal at the 1992 Olympic Games, but the spirit and determination that the British sprinter displayed in the 400m semi-final in Barcelona still serves as inspiration for countless other athletes.
Redmond had been one of Britain’s most successful track and field stars in the 1980s and early ‘90s – twice breaking the national 400m record, and winning gold medals in the 4x400m relay at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
But his career had also been blighted by injuries. He had been forced to withdraw from the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul just 10 minutes before the start of his race due to a problem with his Achilles tendon, and by the time he arrived at the 1992 Games he had already undergone eight different operations.
He was back to his best in Barcelona, however – clocking his fastest times for four years when winning his heat and quarter-final. With many tipping the in-form Redmond to challenge for a medal, he started strongly in the semi-final, and was in a good position on the back straight before disaster struck.
“I felt a pop,” recalls Redmond. It was his hamstring.
The 26-year-old collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg, as medics approached with a stretcher to carry him off the track. Redmond, however, had other ideas. He pushed himself back onto his feet and began hobbling towards the finish line.
“I said to myself: ‘There’s no way I’m going to be stretchered out of these Olympics’,” he explains.
As he struggled around the bend, Redmond’s father, Jim, leapt from the crowd and made his way onto the track to help his son.
In one of the most heart-warming moments ever seen at the Games, Redmond tearfully limped to the finish line, supported by his father, as the 65,000 fans in the Olympic Stadium rose to their feet to salute his bravery.
“I’m the proudest father alive, I’m prouder of him than I would have been if he had won the gold medal,” said Redmond’s father afterwards. “It took a lot of guts for him to do what he did.”
Redmond’s courage and determination was not lost on his fellow athletes, either, with many writing to him to express their admiration and respect.
“Long after the names of the medallists have faded from our minds, you will be remembered for having finished, for having tried so hard,” wrote one Canadian athlete. “I thank you, and I will always remember your race, and I will always remember you – the purest, most courageous example of grit and determination I have seen.”
While the official record books state that Redmond “Did Not Finish” due to the fact that he was helped over the line, there are millions of fans and fellow athletes who beg to differ, having witnessed one of the most inspirational moments in Olympic history.
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