I want to be honest with you, the Olympics don’t really call my attention. Even though I can manage to be mesmerized by divers I have a hard time considering it really a sport. With that aside I have to acknowledge that sports or not these athletes are very talented and skilled. They work hard ,wait 4 years, and have only one chance to reach their goals. Which is why the story of Derek Redmond touches me so much.
Derek Redmond is retired British runner. While he was active , Redmond , had won Gold medals in the 4×400 meters relay in the World Championships,European Championships,Commonwealth games,and he held the British record for the 400 meters sprint. Then came 1992 Barcelona ,Spain. The Olympics. Right in the 400 meters semi-final Redmond tore his hamstring. It was suddenly all over for him. Everything he had fought for , everything he trained for , vanished right then in there. Even though Redmond had no chance to win the race with a tore hamstring, he stood up , fought the pain and hobbled on the track. He refused to get medical help because he wanted to finish his race. Not win but at least finish it. His father , Jim Redmond, barged through security and managed to join his son on the tracks. Together side by side he finished the race.
I haven’t read who actually won that race. I can understand why Derek Redmond was the real hero of this story. With all the odds against him he still fought to finish his race. It’s a very touching story. Visa recently uses the video footage of this race to promote the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Acknowledging that he and his father finished “dead last, but he and his father finished.”
Gigi Zulei 