Even In Defeat The Power of Pereseverance Inspire Glory

What the Guardian said: 5 August 1992

 It was when Derek Redmond got to the bit about sending his sister Karen into premature labour back home in Northampton that he was cut short by laughter. "You're making it up, aren't you?" asked one reporter.

And indeed, his account of the events that surrounded his departure from the 400 metres on Monday – told in a matter-of-fact tone that made it all the more convincing – did sound at times as if it had been scripted. "There must be half a dozen headlines in this," murmured a man from one of the tabloids in a tone of wonder.

Before Redmond's hamstring gave out, he felt sublimely confident. "Everything clicked," he said. "The mind was in synch with the body. I wouldn't have even bothered putting in a kick into the back straight."

What got him up from the track after his collapse – "and I got up quicker than I got out of my blocks" – was the sight of a Red Cross worker with a stretcher. "I said to myself: 'There's no way I'm going to be stretchered out of these Olympics.' I didn't know where I was. I really, really believed I could still qualify."

And so he set off limping along the track into a sporting legend. His father Jimmy, who supported his son on his way, had to overcome what his son called "an obstacle course of his own" in order to get on to the track.

"You don't have to put yourself through this," Jimmy told Derek, but nonetheless carried on warding off officials for as long as his son wanted to remain on the track. "I'd never heard my dad using four-letter words," Derek said. "I learned a few new ones."

On his way out of the arena he met Linford Christie, with whom he is known to have had serious differences. "It obviously touched something in him because he came over and put his arms round me and we embraced," said Redmond. "Tears started and we both broke down. I know it sounds soppy but it was Mills and Boon sort of stuff. It shows that this sport isn't just about coming here and making money."

And 15 or so fellow competitors who have left messages of congratulation and commiseration for him in the Olympic computer system seem to agree. But this is not quite sufficient consolation for Redmond. "I'd like to run one big race here, just to say this track didn't beat me," he said. As if anyone doubted it.