“I kind of got a free swing at the Olympics when I was 19 years old”
Athletics Weekly|February 20, 2020
OUR SERIES CONTINUES WITH THE 1984 OLYMPIC 1500m SILVER MEDALLIST SHARING HIS EARLY OLYMPIC MEMORIES AND INSIGHT INTO WHY THE EXPERIENCE WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ONE
“I kind of got a free swing at the Olympics when I was 19 years old”

IT SEEMS a long time ago now. My first Olympics were in Moscow and it was a real challenge, the process was really challenging, because there was going to be a boycott and then there wasn’t.

Then I fell in the Olympic trials and thought my chances had gone and then, because Dave Moorcroft opted to run the 5000m at the Olympics instead of the 1500m, another place became available. I ended up having a runoff in Oslo against Graham Williamson.

It was a traumatic period. But also, just getting to the Olympics was an incredible learning curve. Then when I got there, I’m with Seb Coe and Steve Ovett. I’m 19. I’m learning and I’m watching.

This story is from the February 20, 2020 edition of Athletics Weekly.

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This story is from the February 20, 2020 edition of Athletics Weekly.

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