Sometimes you just got to keep going

sneek · Dec 12, 2007

...hate to be the first person to start a "deep" thread on DB...but today I came to the realization that I might not finish my business degree. (actually I figured out a way to do it...but my GPA for this year won't be outstanding, but most likely "good enough" by most standards, but not for me). It was pretty discouraging considering how much time I spent on it...but hey it is in the past. To steal a line from, Meet the Robinson's, "keep moving forward".

Here is a story I keep in my favorites when I need that extra motivation. Some of you may remember this, but I was too young to know about this.

THE MOMENT
The day of the race arrives. Father and son reminisce about what it took for Derek to get to this point. They talk about ignoring past heartbreaks, past failures. They agree that if anything bad happens, no matter what it is, Derek has to finish the race, period.

The top four finishers in each of the two semifinal heats qualify for the Olympic final. As race time approaches for the semifinal 400 heat, Jim heads up to his seat at the top of Olympic Stadium, not far from where the Olympic torch was lit just a few days earlier. He is wearing a T-shirt that reads, "Have you hugged your foot today?"

Derek Redmond
With the help of his father, an injured Derek Redmond completed his race in the 1992 Olympics.

The stadium is packed with 65,000 fans, bracing themselves for one of sport's greatest and most exciting spectacles. The race begins and Redmond breaks from the pack and quickly seizes the lead. "Keep it up, keep it up," Jim says to himself.

Down the backstretch, only 175 meters away from finishing, Redmond is a shoo-in to make the finals. Suddenly, he hears a pop. In his right hamstring. He pulls up lame, as if he had been shot.

"Oh, no," Jim says to himself. His face pales. His leg quivering, Redmond begins hopping on one leg, then slows down and falls to the track. As he lays on the track, clutching his right hamstring, a medical personnel unit runs toward him. At the same time, Jim Redmond, seeing his son in trouble, races down from the top row of the stands, sidestepping people, bumping into others. He has no credential to be on the track, but all he thinks about is getting to his son, to help him up. "I wasn't going to be stopped by anyone," he later tells the media.

On the track, Redmond realizes his dream of an Olympic medal is gone. Tears run down his face. "All I could think was, 'I'm out of the Olympics -- again,'" he would say.

As the medical crew arrives with a stretcher, Redmond tells them, "No, there's no way I'm getting on that stretcher. I'm going to finish my race."

Then, in a moment that will live forever in the minds of millions, Redmond lifts himself to his feet, ever so slowly, and starts hobbling down the track. The other runners have finished the race, with Steve Lewis of the U.S. winning the contest in 44.50. Suddenly, everyone realizes that Redmond isn't dropping out of the race by hobbling off to the side of the track. No, he is actually continuing on one leg. He's going to attempt to hobble his way to the finish line. All by himself. All in the name of pride and heart.

Slowly, the crowd, in total disbelief, rises and begins to roar. The roar gets louder and louder. Through the searing pain, Redmond hears the cheers, but "I wasn't doing it for the crowd," he would later say. "I was doing it for me. Whether people thought I was an idiot or a hero, I wanted to finish the race. I'm the one who has to live with it."

One painful step at a time, each one a little slower and more painful than the one before, his face twisted with pain and tears, Redmond limps onward, and the crowd, many in tears, cheer him on.

Suddenly, Jim Redmond finally gets to the bottom of the stands, leaps over the railing, avoids a security guard, and runs out to his son, with two security people chasing after him. "That's my son out there," he yells back to security, "and I'm going to help him."

Finally, with Derek refusing to surrender and painfully limping along the track, Jim reaches his son at the final curve, about 120 meters from the finish, and wraps his arm around his waist.

"I'm here, son," Jim says softly, hugging his boy. "We'll finish together." Derek puts his arms around his father's shoulders and sobs.

Together, arm in arm, father and son, with 65,000 people cheering, clapping and crying, finish the race, just as they vowed they would. A couple steps from the finish line, and with the crowd in an absolute frenzy, Jim releases the grip he has on his son, so Derek could cross the finish line by himself. Then he throws his arms around Derek again, both crying, along with everyone in the stands and on TV.

"I'm the proudest father alive," he tells the press afterwards, tears in his eyes. "I'm prouder of him than I would have been if he had won the gold medal. It took a lot of guts for him to do what he did."
Click to expand...

ESPN.com - ESPN 25 - 94: Derek and dad finish Olympic 400 together

Here is the moment on video
YouTube - Derek Redmond, Dad Help Father to finish the race

DieselMDX · Dec 12, 2007

Damn that was deep... I remember that

reminds me of that cross country runner who ran to the finish line with a broken leg

klumzypinoy · Dec 12, 2007

That's really touching.. I was young and never saw that on TV.

pirex · Dec 12, 2007

Thats a good story!! Thanks for sharing.

So you don`t think you will finish your degree? I bet you feel better over christmas. Its a hard time with all the exams etc now!

Good luck sneek

Ronnie · Dec 12, 2007

I always think there are always people who are in a worse situation than I am in. Also my actions will make an improvement to somebody elses life then it is worth striving on! even if the result is selfish ie better home and life for future wife and kids. The focus is on enjoyment!! Thanks for sharing...

Deep Gloss Auto Salon · Dec 12, 2007

WOW being a father that story really touched me.. Thanks for sharing!

So why aren't go going to get your degree?

I really hope you are not taking this too hard.....

I also hope I am not out of line or being overly "stereo typical" of Asian parents BUT, over the course of my life some of my very goods friends have been Asian.. I have seen 1st hand the VERY HIGH expectations some of them put on their kids (especially the male children).. I have also seen a couple of my Asian friends not live up to their parent’s standards.. It was very hard on them. One of my friends took his life as a result..

I guess what I am trying to say is I hope your family is not too hard on you and PLEASE realize that our parent’s expectations for us may not be what is in the "cards" for us..

I am very happy to see you reaching out to you extended "internet" family.. Please use us as much as possible if this continues to trouble you. With all the different people on here from so many different places there is an abundance of knowledge and life lessons for you to tap into.

Wish you all the best!

Calgarydetail · Dec 12, 2007

pat i exactly how you feel, rember post secondary isnothing lik ehighschool, how you prepare for it is diffrent, and its not something you can figure out in your first semeser, or your first test.
I know you have only writen one final, even if you fail your gpa isnt going to drop that low.

University is a whole new experience that takes some getting used to, your not going to master it in one semester, heck im in my third year and im still trying to figure it out.

and if all else fails remeber C for degree (we used tobe so proud of that on the bar after finals)

Nica · Dec 12, 2007

Oh man that's deep Pat...:thumb:...

richy · Dec 12, 2007

I don't remember that story but it is very touching. Was it a calling to yourself to hang in there and keep at it? the best of luck regardless of what you choose!

JLs Detailing · Dec 12, 2007

Wow like MotorCity said man being a father that really moved me. Sneek bud hang in there I remember stressing finals especially in my final semester. I worked extremely hard in one of my classes that I needed to give me enough credits for my second minor and I missed it by a few points, that really sucked but in the grand scheme of things 15 years later it doesn't really bother me anymore. Hang in there bro and remember the things that don't kill us only make us stronger!

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