Officially, in the first semi-final of the men’s 400 metres at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona Derek Redmond did not finish, having torn his hamstring and collapsed to the track, clutching his leg, down the back straight. However, what happened next would make Redmond an inspiration to millions, like someone winning big on usa casinos online.
Redmond had been forced to withdraw with from the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul with an Achilles tendon injury but, despite a series of operations, arrived in Barcelona injury-free and in peak form. Having run 45.03 seconds and 45.02 seconds when winning his heat and quarter-final, respectively, he was, in his own words, ‘running for a medal, no doubt about that.’ However, after just 100 metres or so of the semi-final, Redmond heard a popping sound, felt excrutiating pain and fell to the ground. He rose and hobbled another 50 metres or so but, by that point, all chance of qualifying for the final had gone.
Nevertheless, Redmond resolved to finish the race on his own terms and, despite being barely able to walk, ignored the attention of doctors and officials as he continued his gradual, faltering progress towards the finishing line. About 100 metres from the finish, Redmond was joined by his father, Jim, to whom he famously said, ‘Dad, I want to finish, get me back in the semi-final.’ Finish he did, albeit a long way last, held up by his father, to create one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history. Iconic moments in time like this can never be predicted. Much like a spin of an online casino roulette wheel, the outcome is an unknown.