British dash hurdler appears to be like again on the 1984 Olympic Video games in Los Angeles when she received silver in 12.88 behind Benita Fitzgerald-Brown
I used to be so targeted on what I used to be doing and what I needed to do, it didn’t actually come into my thoughts that folks from the Jap Bloc weren’t going to be in Los Angeles as a result of boycotts. Clearly, we have been upset that not all the very best folks have been going to be there, nevertheless it didn’t cease our preparation. The intention was to compete on the Olympic Video games and get a medal, no matter who was there.
The earlier Video games in Moscow was very subdued. We may exit, however we needed to be supervised and really cautious if we went out with none folks with us. However LA was simply free. You possibly can do what you needed. It was completely wonderful and it was very glamorous.
We went to homes in Hollywood for dinner and cocktails and issues like that and we have been simply excited in regards to the Video games being in LA as a result of it’s consistently in sunshine. It’s simply stunning over there and we have been welcomed with open arms. It was simply beautiful.
We have been within the solar all day, each day. We did our coaching periods after which, within the evenings, we had so many issues on. There was a form of intranet that was out there in LA, which was the most recent factor then. You possibly can contact anyone on campus, virtually like emails.
I moved home this yr and located one of many messages within the attic that stated I couldn’t meet up as a result of I used to be assembly the Prime Minister of Australia for dinner. I’ve no recollection of that in any respect, however we did so many issues. I keep in mind going to Disney World sooner or later and I met Lionel Richie (I used to be such a fan of his) however I don’t keep in mind a number of the social facet of it. I keep in mind the competitors.
Shirley Robust, Benita Fitzgerald-Brown, Kim Turner (Mark Shearman)
When you will have the primary stroll out into the stadium, it simply takes your breath away. However it’s important to simply lean on all of your coaching and also you turn out to be so targeted. As quickly as you’re preparing, attempting the blocks and simply attempting out the primary few hurdles, you don’t actually discover the massive crowds or the environment throughout the race. That got here afterwards after I went to go and watch different folks compete. If you’re truly competing, it’s as in the event you block it out.
There was a number of stress on me to win it. I nonetheless consider to this present day that if my coach, Jim Harris, had been there after I had a foul semi-final, I’d have carried out higher within the remaining.
We’d labored on the primary hurdle. On the World Championships in Helsinki the yr earlier than, one other coach tried to attempt to get me to alter my steps to the primary hurdle and that basically threw me out for some time. Jim went completely ballistic – he was livid {that a} nationwide coach may attempt to do this with me in such an essential yr. However we received it sorted in the long run. Jim was an excellent coach. He knew the way to deal with me and what to say to me and I wanted he’d been on the Video games.
Today, athletes all have their very own coaches with them however again then solely the workforce coaches received accreditation, no one else may. Jim may nonetheless have been in LA, however wouldn’t have been within the village with me, or there in between the semi and the ultimate.
I hit a hurdle within the semi-final. It utterly knocked me and I certified second. Within the remaining, they stated I used to be within the lead till the previous couple of hurdles. It was so minute that it was tough to see mid-race. Myself and Benita Fitzgerald-Brown [of the USA] have been elevating our lead legs on the identical time however she did come off the final hurdle faster and that’s what did it.
I hadn’t truly anticipated her to problem as a result of she had performed nothing earlier than and did nothing after, so it was a bit out of the blue. I used to be anticipating Michèle Chardonnet, the French lady, to be my fundamental competitor. Possibly Kim Turner, the opposite American, however actually not Benita. It was an actual shock that she got here by way of that day.
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I knew immediately she’d received, despite the fact that we have been 5 lanes aside. I simply felt disappointment at coming second. I had a number of tears straight after the race. On the podium, apparently I used to be booed, solely as a result of I used to be British and it got here after the Mary Decker Slaney/Zola Budd fiasco and the gang have been booing all of the Brits. However I didn’t actually discover. I used to be simply so upset that I wasn’t one step greater, I didn’t actually take the gang in that a lot.
I’ve by no means celebrated since and I can’t watch the race anymore. I’ve most likely solely watched it twice. I’ve by no means been glad with it. And other people say try to be happy with the silver medal. However I by no means shall be as a result of I needed the gold. That’s simply the best way it’s. I’m nonetheless not proud of the silver.
As informed to Mark Woods
» This text first appeared within the July situation of AW journal. Subscribe right here
