Friday, September 27, 2013

Derek Redmond - A Father's Helps His Son


In 1992, half my life ago, I saw an Olympic moment that caught the attention of the world, one that stole my heart as I watched a father's compassion for his injured son who would persevere through pain and injury to complete what he had started.  It was truly phenomenal - Derek Redmond, a British runner, was competing in the 400 meters when he pulled his hamstring as he rounded the final turn.  Instead of quitting after he had fallen, he rose back to his feet and hobbled and hopped, trying to complete the remaining 100 meters even though the other competitors had already finished.


Meanwhile, an older gentleman had somehow made his way onto the track, it was Mr. Redmond, Derek's father who had hurried past security guards to assist his injured son.  When he asked Derek what he was doing, Derek replied, "I have to finish."  "Then we'll do it together," said dad, scooping Derek's arm over his shoulder.  And together they did something in a few minutes that normally takes a few seconds, but those minutes captured the hearts of the world.

It was truly unforgettable.


If you missed it, here's a link of the video - Derek Redmond & father finish Olympic race together

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