Jim Redmond was an English man who became part of one of the most inspiring moments in Olympic history when he helped his sprinter son cross the finish line at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
- Died: October 2, 2022 (Who else died on October 2?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 81.
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1992 Olympics
Redmond’s son, Derek Redmond, had qualified for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, but an Achilles tendon injury kept him from competing. When he began running the 400 meters sprint, he tore his hamstring and fell to the ground. Derek got up and attempted to finish the race, but he was badly injured and limping severely. Redmond ran from the stands, brushing aside officials who tried to stop him from reaching his son. The two crossed the finish line together as Derek leaned on his father for support. The heartwarming moment went down in Olympic history, and it was remembered 20 years later, when England hosted the 2012 Olympic Games. Redmond was chosen to be one of the torchbearers during that year’s torch relay.
Notable quote
“I saw my [son] having a problem and it was my duty to help. I actually went on the track to try to stop him inflicting further damage to himself. It was Derek’s idea. … He asked me to get him back in that lane and I offered him a shoulder to lean on.” —from a 2012 interview for CBS News
Tributes to Jim Redmond
Full obituary: BBC
