The Father Who Ran

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond was considered a medal contender in the 400-meter semifinal. He had spent years clawing back from Achilles surgeries and setbacks to reach this moment. Then, 150 meters in, he heard a pop. His right hamstring tore, and he crumpled to the track.

The race continued around him. Sixty-five thousand spectators fell silent as Derek refused the stretcher, hauled himself to his feet, and began limping toward the finish line. He was sobbing. He had no chance of placing. He kept going anyway.

Then a man in a baseball cap burst through stadium security and pushed past officials onto the track. It was Jim Redmond, Derek's father. He put his arm around his son's shoulder and said, "You don't have to do this." Derek told him, "I've got to finish." So Jim said, "Then we're going to finish this together."

They crossed the line arm in arm as sixty-five thousand people rose to their feet in tears.