Sports Dads: Jim Redmond
There might not be a more famous or powerful Olympic clip
Welcome to Sports Dads! This is a feature that will highlight some of the greatest father-athlete moments and relationships that we know of in the world of sports. Being a dad is the greatest job I’ll ever have and the most important thing I’ll ever do in my life. We’ll learn lessons from the guys that the MVPs and GOATS call papa.
Jim Redmond
You might not recognize the name, but you’ll know the clip in an instant.
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One of the most famous clips in Olympic history, it runs the gamut of feelings. You see the crumbling of an athlete in his prime on the biggest stage, the love of a father on display, and what happens when the world falls away and raw emotion takes over.
Derek Redmond was a European and World champion sprinter who specialized in the 400 meter run. His career was plagued by injuries but he was healthy heading into the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He blasted through his initial qualifying heat and was starting to look like a medal contender.
In his 2nd heat, disaster struck. He tore him hamstring and began to jump and limp on the track. In immense pain the anguish was clear on his face. Then a figure appears on the screen behind him, running towards him. Dressed as the track dad in a Nike ad is Jim Redmond, getting underneath his son and helping him to finish the race. When finishing the crowd of 65,000 attendees rose and gave the pair a standing ovation.
It’s an iconic image that Nike eventually turned into an ad, and so has Visa, and the Olympics as well. Jim and Derek together were torch bearers during the 2012 London Olympic games.
It is arguably the most famous disqualification in Olympic history, and pivotal moment in sports dad history.
If you’d rather listen, check out the audio version on my podcast!