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At the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Derek, despite his countless
injuries, had returned to his best form. Although his UK record of 44.50
was to fall to David Grindley's 44.47 in the semi-final, the signs were
there. A sub 45.00 performance was waiting in the wings. This was
confirmed by his run in the quarter-finals, where he clocked 45.02 in
second place to book a berth into the semis. But there it all went
wrong. On the back straight his hamstring went. Derek was distraught but
he was determined to finish the race. His father joined him on the
track and with his aid Derek bravely battled on to cross the finishing
line. The TV pictures of him hobbling the remainder of the race are
regularly seen on British television - his face distorted by the pain
and disbelief. The two images above show Derek in the heats and the
smaller image entering the home straight hobbling on his injured leg.
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.
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| In 1991 Derek competed in his second World Athletics Championship but
on this occasion, unlike 1987 in Rome, he did not star in the
individual event. However, in Tokyo, he had the great satisfaction of
winning a gold medal. The men's 4x400m was the event and Derek ran the
fastest leg of the British quartet, an even 44.00 on the second leg,
having taken the baton from the individual silver medallist Roger Black.
The photos above show Derek during the heats (the main black and white
photo) and the smaller insets show him being challenged by Quincy Watts
(43.40) in the final and above that the G.B. team of Roger Black, John
Regis, Derek and Kriss Akabusi on the winners medal rostrum moments
before receiving their gold medals. |
.
Men's 4x400m. Relay Final. 1991 World Athletics Championships .
1. Great Britain (R. Black,
D. Redmond, J. Regis, K. Akabusi)
2: 57.53
2. USA (A. Valmon, Q. Watts, D. Everett, A. Pettigrew) 2: 57.57
3. Jamaica (P. O'Connor, D. Morris, W. Graham, S. Fagan) 3: 00.10
4. Yugoslavia 3: 00.32
5. Kenya 3: 00.34
6. Germany 3: 00.75
7. Morocco 3: 04.49
8. Cuba 3: 05.33.
In 1987 Derek Redmond broke the mens's United Kingdom 400m record for a second time.
At the World Athletics Championships in Rome he ran 44.50 seconds, in his semi-final,
to regain the record from Roger Black. Two years earlier in 1985 Derek broke David Jenkins
then ten year old record when he ran 44.82 seconds. In the final at Rome - the photo above show
Derek at the start of his heat - he ran 45.06 seconds for fifth place. Fifth place was also his World
ranking in 1987 over the men's 400 metres. Derek fared better still in the 4x400m relay, teaming
up with Kriss Akabusi, Roger Black and Phil Brown to win the silver medal for Great Britain in a time of 2.58.86.
.
Men's 4x400m. Relay Final. 1987 World Athletics Championships
1. United States (D. Everett, R. Haley, A. McKay, H. Reynolds) 2: 57.29
2. Great Britain (
D. Redmond, K. Akabusi, R. Black, P. Brown)
2: 58.86
3. Cuba (L. Pe-alver, A. Pavo, L. Martinez, R. Hernandez) 2: 59.16
.
| |
| Men's 400m. Final. 1987 World Athletics Championships |
| |
|
|
. |
|
| 1. Thomas Schonlebe |
|
GDR |
|
44.33 |
| 2. Innocent Egbunike |
|
NGR |
|
44.56 |
| 3. Harry Reynolds |
|
USA |
|
44.80 |
| 4. Roberto Hernandez |
|
CUB |
|
44.99 |
| 5. Derek Redmond |
|
GBR |
|
45.06 |
| 6. David Kitur |
|
KEN |
|
45.34 |
| 7. Gabriel Tiacoh |
|
CIV |
|
46.27 |
| 8. Roddie Haley |
|
USA |
|
46.77 |
| |