I used to be so targeted on what I used to be doing and what I needed to do, it didn’t actually come into my thoughts that folks from the Jap Bloc weren’t going to be in Los Angeles because of the boycotts. Clearly, we have been dissatisfied that not all the very best individuals have been going to be there, however it didn’t cease our preparation. The goal 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 might exit, however we needed to be supervised and really cautious if we went out with none individuals with us. However LA was simply free. You possibly can do what you needed. It was completely superb 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 continually in sunshine. It’s simply stunning over there and we have been welcomed with open arms. It was simply pretty.
We have been within the solar all day, daily. We did our coaching periods after which, within the evenings, we had so many issues on. There was a sort 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 keep in mind going to Disney World at some point and I met Lionel Richie (I used to be such a fan of his) however I don’t keep in mind a whole lot of the social aspect of it. I keep in mind the competitors.
When you could have the primary stroll out into the stadium, it simply takes your breath away. However it’s important to simply lean on all of your coaching and also you grow 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 massive crowds or the ambiance in the course of the race. That got here afterwards after I went to go and watch different individuals compete. Whenever you’re truly competing, it’s as when you block it out.
There was a whole lot of stress on me to win it. I nonetheless imagine to this present day that if my coach, Jim Harris, had been there after I had a foul semi-final, I’d have carried out higher within the remaining.
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 alter 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 might attempt to try this with me in such an necessary 12 months. However we bought it sorted in the long run. Jim was a superb coach. He knew learn how to deal with me and what to say to me and I needed he’d been on the Video games.
As of late, athletes all have their very own coaches with them however again then solely the group coaches bought accreditation, no one else might. Jim might 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 utterly knocked me and I certified second. Within the remaining, they stated I used to be within the lead till the previous few hurdles. It was so minute that it was tough to see mid-race. Myself and Benita Fitzgerald-Brown [of the USA] have been elevating our lead legs on the identical time however she did come off the final hurdle faster and that’s what did it.
I hadn’t truly anticipated her to problem as a result of she had finished 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 principal competitor. Perhaps Kim Turner, the opposite American, however actually not Benita. It was an actual shock that she got here via that day.
READ MORE: My biggest race archives
I knew immediately she’d received, regardless 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 gang have been booing all of the Brits. However I didn’t actually discover. I used to be simply so dissatisfied that I wasn’t one step larger, I didn’t actually take the gang in that a lot.
I’ve by no means celebrated since and I can’t watch the race anymore. I’ve in all probability solely watched it twice. I’ve by no means been glad with it. And other people say you need to be happy with the silver medal. However I by no means might be as a result of I needed the gold. That’s simply the way in which it’s. I’m nonetheless not pleased with the silver.Â
As advised to Mark Woods
» This text first appeared within the July challenge of AW journal. Subscribe right here