I had one of the most iconic and emotional Olympics moments ever, now I’m making my return to sport at 59

AN Athletics fable liable for 1 of the astir iconic moments successful Olympic past is returning to nonrecreational athletics - aged 59. 

Derek Redmond is remembered by galore for the unthinkable scenes successful the 1992 Olympics erstwhile his dad, Jim, helped him implicit the decorativeness enactment during the Men’s 400m aft tearing his hamstring. 

Now, the 59-year-old has been selected to play successful the 2025 World Basketball Championships for GB Men’s Over-55s side. 

After being medically forced to discontinue successful 1994, Redmond went connected to play nonrecreational hoops for Birmingham Bullets and England.

He volition beryllium linking up with The Federation of Masters Basketball Association (FIMBA) GB broadside which provides the accidental to proceed performing connected the planetary signifier for each property groups 35+. 

Speaking with high show training providers Champions (UK) plc, Redmond said: “I’m evidently truly excited.

“It rolls backmost the years of preparing for a large contention similar the World Championships. 

“It each comes with caller challenges, a spot of excitement, a small spot of apprehension, a small spot of going somewhat into the unknown.

“I conjecture my vantage is I’ve competed astatine the highest level, truthful I won't beryllium getting signifier fright and that benignant of stuff. 

“I deliberation my biggest interest oregon interest is that I tin inactive execute astatine that benignant of level, and I'm not going to marque a implicit fool of myself.” 

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A multifaceted athlete, Redmond has besides competed successful rugby 7s, boxing, martial arts and motorcycle racing post-athletics career.

The erstwhile Olympian has revealed that helium wants to proceed to execute professionally for arsenic agelong arsenic possible. 

He added: “Even astatine the property of 59 I'm not giving up. People ever think, ‘why bash you inactive container astatine your age?’ Well, wherefore not?

“You cognize erstwhile americium I going to stop? When I can't ascent successful a ringing oregon tally up and down a hoops court. 

“I don't person a clip bounds connected those sorts of things. It's beauteous chill to bash anyway. I

"It's large due to the fact that it benignant of shows I signifier what I preach with my work. And I emotion challenges. I conscionable can't look to halt trying. I privation I could. 

“I woke up aft hoops grooming with sore knees and thought what the hellhole americium I doing? But I'll spell backmost adjacent week! I’m similar that idiosyncratic who gets drunk, has a horrible hangover, says I'm ne'er going to get drunk again, and past does it again the adjacent week!” 

Nowadays, Redmond is besides a renowned keynote speaker and concern grooming provider.

He antecedently served arsenic Director of Development for sprints and hurdles for UK Athletics.

He continued: “It means a batch to me, due to the fact that of what I bash present for a living, talking astir resilience, talking astir ne'er giving up, being brave, trying caller things. I deliberation this is an illustration of that, and I'm beauteous overmuch practicing what I preach."

The 2025 World Championships volition beryllium taking spot successful Ticino, Switzerland betwixt June 27 – July 6 2025.