Round 1 Heat 3: 2nd Q (Tony Jarrett, Jason John, Marcus Adam, Linford Christie)
Jason was left out of the team in the final, and Great Britain finished 4th.
Athlete: Derek Redmond
Event: 400 metres
Heat 1: 1st – 45.03
Quarterfinals Heat 2: 1st – 45.02
Semifinals Heat 1: DNF
Derek posted the fastest time of the first round, and went on to win his quarter-final. In the semi-final, he started well, but in the back straight about 250 metres from the finish, his hamstring snapped. He hobbled to a halt, and then fell to the ground in pain. Stretcher bearers made their way over to him, but Redmond decided he wanted to finish the race. He began to hobble along the track, with pain etched upon his face. He was soon joined on the track by his father, Jim, who barged past security and on to the track to get to his son. Jim and Derek completed the lap of the track together, with Derek leaning on his father’s shoulder for support. As they crossed the finish line, the crowd of 65,000 rose to give a standing ovation. As his father had helped him finish, Derek was officially disqualified and Olympic records state that he “Did Not Finish” the race. Redmond’s struggle in the 1992 semi-final later became the subject of one of the International Olympic Committee’s ‘Celebrate Humanity’ videos. In 2008, Redmond was featured in a Visa advertisement promoting the Olympic Games. The advertisement highlights his 1992 injury, noting that “he (and his father) finished dead last, but he (and his father) finished”.
Video: Derek Redmond 1992 Olympics 400 metres final
