Team GB has given us hundreds of special moments at the Olympics, with the likes of Mo Farah CBE, Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, Greg Rutherford MBE, Ellie Simmonds, Tom Daley, Nicola Adams and Laura Kenny becoming national treasures and household names.
When it comes to standout Olympic moments, it doesn’t always boil down to victory; sometimes, perseverance and pure Olympic spirit can leave just as much of an impression.
When Derek Redmond took part in the semifinals of the 400m at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, his dreams of clinching a precious gold went up in smoke when his hamstring snapped in the back straight.
What happened next was beyond the imagination of all those watching; he refused to get on a stretcher, stood up and continued the race, limping. His father, Jim, then barged past security and helped Derek complete the lap of the track. The moment that prompted a standing ovation from 65,000 and millions of emotional tears all around the world.
The incident wasn’t just memorable on British shores – it was the subject of one of the International Olympic Committee’s ‘Celebrate Humanity’ videos, while Visa and Nike also used footage from the incident for a series of poignant and touching adverts.
Since retiring from athletics, Derek Redmond has continued to excel in sport and performance. After being told he would never compete again, he defied the odds to play professional basketball for the Birmingham Bullets and represent England. He later held a key leadership role with UK Athletics and worked as a commentator and TV presenter. Former Group Performance Director at a psychometric assessment firm, Derek has a wealth of experience in personal development.
A prolific and much sought-after speaker, Redmond is powerful and inspiring - offering valuable lessons on mental resilience, high-performance teamwork, motivation, and handling pressure, he is the ideal choice for corporate audiences seeking lasting impact.
To book Derek Redmond, or any one of our other Olympic Stars, for your next event contact Champions Olympic Speakers today. Fill out our online form or get in touch with a dedicated booking agent today by calling 0207 1010 553.
Lucy Berry is an After Dinner Sales Executive who joined us in the summer of 2018, shortly after graduating from Victoria University "down under" in Melbourne. In her time at Champions Speakers, Lucy has booked the likes of Ken Segall, Simon Callow, Carol Vorderman and Gary Neville.
Prior to matching clients with top-class speakers, Lucy could be found serving cocktails to Samantha Mumba and Paul Rudd while working in Dublin. Her time in Ireland was not only spent juggling drinks, as she also made her netball debut for the Irish national team.
Lucy likes animals, especially bunnies! But she won't be feeding them courgettes anytime soon as they are the one thing she truly dislikes.
To discuss the details of your event or book one of our exciting Olympic and Paralympic speakers, call a booking agent at Champions Olympic Speakers on 0207 1010 553 or complete our online contact form.
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