I used to be so targeted on what I used to be doing and what I wished to do, it didn’t actually come into my thoughts that individuals from the Jap Bloc weren’t going to be in Los Angeles because of the boycotts. Clearly, we have been upset that not all the perfect 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 wished. 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 concerning the Video games being in LA as a result of it’s continuously in sunshine. It’s simply lovely over there and we have been welcomed with open arms. It was simply pretty.
We have been within the solar all day, on daily basis. We did our coaching classes after which, within the evenings, we had so many issues on. There was a type of intranet that was obtainable in LA, which was the newest factor then. You possibly can contact anyone on campus, nearly like emails.
I moved home this 12 months 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 bear 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 bear in mind loads of the social aspect of it. I bear in mind the competitors.
Shirley Robust, Benita Fitzgerald-Brown, Kim Turner (Mark Shearman)
When you have got the primary stroll out into the stadium, it simply takes your breath away. However you need to simply lean on all of your coaching and also you turn out to be so targeted. As quickly as you’re preparing, making an attempt the blocks and simply making an attempt out the primary few hurdles, you don’t actually discover the large crowds or the ambiance throughout the race. That got here afterwards once I went to go and watch different folks compete. If you’re really competing, it’s as if you happen to block it out.
There was loads 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 might have carried out higher within the closing.
We’d labored on the primary hurdle. On the World Championships in Helsinki the 12 months earlier than, one other coach tried to attempt to get me to vary my steps to the primary hurdle and that actually threw me out for some time. Jim went completely ballistic – he was livid {that a} nationwide coach may try to try this with me in such an vital 12 months. However we received it sorted in the long run. Jim was a superb coach. He knew how one can 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 person 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 fully knocked me and I certified second. Within the closing, they stated I used to be within the lead till the previous few hurdles. It was so minute that it was troublesome to see mid-race. Myself and Benita Fitzgerald-Brown [of the USA] have been elevating our lead legs on the similar time however she did come off the final hurdle faster and that’s what did it.
I hadn’t really anticipated her to problem as a result of she had carried out 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 woman, to be my foremost competitor. Perhaps Kim Turner, the opposite American, however actually not Benita. It was an actual shock that she got here by that day.
READ MORE: My biggest race archives
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 couple 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 group 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 increased, I didn’t actually take the group 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 folks say try to be happy with the silver medal. However I by no means will probably be as a result of I wished the gold. That’s simply the best way it’s. I’m nonetheless not proud of the silver.
As instructed to Mark Woods
» This text first appeared within the July situation of AW journal. Subscribe right here
