Redmond & Mears fathers named as London 2012 Olympic Torchbearers

[richard]

The fathers of former running star Derek Redmond and teenage diver Chris Mears - iconic British athletes for very different reasons - were among the first two individuals officially named today to carry the Olympic Torch in the Relay that begins May 19 in the run-up to London 2012.

Jim Redmond famously jumped from the stands, one of the most poignant moments in Olympic history, to help his injured son limp over the line after he broke down with a torn a hamstring in the 400 metres semi-final at the Barcelona Games of 1992.

Paul Mears and his wife Katy maintained a bedside vigil after being rushed to Sydney where Chris, then 15, needed life-saving surgery after falling critically ill while training as part of Team GB in 2009 for the Australian Youth Olympic festival.

Redmond was chosen by British Olympic Association (BOA) chief executive Andy Hunt, while Mears was nominated by BOA chairman Colin Moynihan.

The two parents, unveiled to the media here with copies of the Torch, were nominated for showing "dedication and support to their children's sporting careers".

"It was a truly iconic moment," Hunt told a news conference of the Redmond father-and-son incident.

"It exemplified what the Olympic spirit is about.

"It was an example of what it's like for parents to support through good and difficult times."

Moynihan said parents were often the "unsung heroes".

"The fact that we have been able to honour Mr Redmond for the moving way that he supported his son to cross the finish line in 1992, along with Mr Mears who has been there to encourage Chris throughout the highs and lows of his diving career, is a great opportunity to highlight the crucial role played by parents in sport," he said.

"This is about putting parents at the top of the tree.

"It shows they are central to the success of Team GB."

Jim Redmond said he still had vivid memories of what happened to his son in Barcelona.

"When Derek started we expected to win something," he said.

"During the first 100m we thought he'd finish in the first three.

"Then his leg went, but Derek being Derek would never give up.

"I don't know why but I had an instinct I had to go over to him to prevent further damage to his leg.

"When I got to the track I didn't realise there was a pit at the front but I leapt over.

"He didn't want to be remembered as someone who didn't finish the race and we finished it jointly.

"I didn't realise that 19 years later it would still be being talked about.

"My son's race will forever be remembered, and while he did not win the gold medal he had dreamed of, he left an indelible mark on the 1992 Games.

"I just hope my leg doesn't give way too."

Chris Mears has now made a full recovery and is in contention for a place in the British diving team this summer.

"It's an enormous privilege to be carrying the Torch," said his father who had to cope with a desperately pessimistic prognosis when his son first fell ill.

"My son nearly died but the BOA were supremely well organised and Chris was in hospital within 10 minutes.

"It was almost like a military operation.

"I feel very privileged to be carrying the Torch."

Neither father has yet been told which leg of the Torch Relay they will be running.

That will decided in March when the remainder of the BOA's nominated 250-strong allocation among the thousands of Torchbearers will be announced.

Included will 26 ambassadors who have won 49 medals between them.

The 70-day Relay will pass through 1,018 villages, towns and cities on an 8,000-mile journey before arriving at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford for the Opening Ceremony on July 27.


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By Andrew Warshaw
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