1st September 1991 Day 43

The Diary (this looks like a long entry)
David Coleman probably said "You can't ask for more than that" a lot on this day. Even if he didn't Graham and I did. We made a lot of Ron Pickering-isms and various other cliches but unlike the Americans we didn't need to stay focussed. It all came naturally. We also discovered today that Coleman and Stuart Storey  are the BBC Sport porn kings - a little inside info from Ian our freelance vision mixer.


Japan won the marathon. I think the other countries agreed to let them have a token win and also decided it had to be the ugliest person at the games (give or take a few of the women discus throwers - and Sally Gunnell). Dalton Grant broke the British record in the high jump and only missed a medal on count back. "You can't ask for more than that". Yates was crap in the 1500. Merlene Ottey finally got a gold medal in the 4x100m as Krabbe's halo slipped a little and the German's botched the last change. No vorsprung durch technik this time. The British men's 4x100m team got a bronze but no-one was going to beat the US team that included the 3 fastest men of all time. New world record. "You can't ask for more than that".


Yobes pissed on everyone in the 5000m. The women's 4x400m team came fourth and broke the British record again. "You can't ask for more than that". Well, you could, how about a face lift for Sally Gunnell (or a medal). 

And then, the one we'd been waiting for. Regis was in and for some reason Black was running the first leg. It all went perfectly. In the lead after the first leg and then always on the Americans' shoulders. Everett couldn't shake Regis and Bop screamed "we're still there, we're still there". The British contingent was going absolutely apeshit. The last leg and it was Akabusi against Pettigrew. Akabusi stayed within inches of Pettigrew's shoulder and then passed him with about 50m left. The Brits were hysterical and I think the rest of Europe was cheering. Pettigrew couldn't fight back and we stormed in with a new British record. Even the French cheered.  "You can't ask for more than that". On a par with David Platt's goal. We had the best lap of honour of the games and they followed this up with the only lap of honour after a medal ceremony. 

In the morning a British supporter's team had lost the park relay to an American supporter's team. We said it didn't matter because we would win the 4x400m. They laughed. They must be laughing on the other side of their faces now. Maybe they didn't stay focussed or maybe Pettigrew was distracted by a camera lens (the worst excuse ever).

British Supporter's team

The 4x400m team had smashed the British record again. "You can't ask for more than that". Everyone wanted to know two things a) what were the splits and b) what had David Coleman been saying ? "Britain take gold" perhaps or how about "1-0". I bet he set a new PB for the greatest number of verbal cock-ups in 2:57.53. and probably "You can't ask for more than that". etc.


The closing ceremony was far better than the Italian's dismal effort in 1987 and the athletes ran amok. The British flag was first round the track - just where it should be all the time.

And so to the evening. Six of us went out to celebrate and headed back to the bar where Glenn had done his initial rendition of My Way. Unfortunately we were remembered. Just to show how confusing Tokyo is, it was at this point that we realised that the other karaoke bar we'd been in was directly opposite. We thought it was hundreds of yards away. Glenn was soon on stage, this time murdering The Beatles. At least the Japanese had an equally bad singer with them this time. By the end of the evening Graham had duetted on Jumpin' Jack Flash with Glenn and then, Graham, Andy Elleker (who Glenn introduced as the man who wrote The Beatles' songs) and I did a rip-roaring version of Yellow Submarine as an encore. 

It was all over.


I almost forgot the Aussie girl who wanted my address. Pity she asked Barry the rep rather than asking me directly. 


2011
David Platt's goal - ok, this is the real goal.


It's worth mentioning that years later Pettigrew, the individual 400m gold medal winner, admitted to taking steroids. Black potentially should have been the World Champion as he took Silver. In 2010 Pettigrew committed suicide.


For more about the 4x400m - in their own voices see this links: (This is fantastic)
Roger
Derek
John
Kriss


For more about Redmond (and some Sally Gunnell) - see here


Apologies to Sally Gunnell - I'm sure your husband and kids like you.