This is a funny story. Sam Reardon had a bit of drama before he made Team GB and he brought home two medals. Great story by Stuart Weir.
Accidental medalist Sam Reardon
Did you hear about the GB athlete who was not selected for the Olympics and ended up with two medals in Paris?
Sam Reardon was injured and missed the WC trials in June, and when the team, including the relay team, came around, he wasn’t surprised he wasn’t invited. Charlie Carvel then had to drop out of the Olympic team, but Sam Reardon seemed too short.
He ran 44.70 in the London Diamond League, but even then he was told it was too late. So while the team were in France, Sam was watching the opening ceremony on TV and preparing for the UK National Athletics League race for his club, Blackheath and Bromley. He then received a message saying that British Athletics wanted to add him to the team, but the deadline for naming athletes had passed, so it required approval from the British Olympic Association and the IOC. He couldn’t celebrate and didn’t dare not tell anyone because it could still be vetoed. Then it was confirmed and he had the odd problem of telling his club that he had to withdraw from the National Athletic League race because he was going to the Olympics.
Well, he was in the squad, but presumably only as a reserve. At least he could experience the Olympics. It improved when he was elected mixed 4 by 400 in which GB ran a national record to win the race. Reardon then commented: “I have dreamed of this moment for a long, long time. I started the sport watching London 2012, so leading the nation in the 4×400 at the Olympics is a dream come true. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind week, getting called up and flying straight to Paris. I really can’t believe it, to be honest with you. I had a great run in London to make the team. Martin (Rooney), Darren (Campbell) and my coach said run like you did in London. Just attack the race and don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing. And I did, so I’m over the moon.”
When you’re in a NR run it would be cruel to leave you and Sam kept his place in the final in a race remembered for Femke Bol almost single-handedly beating the Americans. Great Britain again won bronze in the first game with Sam. He seemed to have a hard time finding words after that. We went in wanting to win a medal and that’s exactly what we did, so we’re over the moon. It was an electric atmosphere. When I got into my block settings, the French team was pumping up the crowd, so I kind of fed off that energy and it carried me. My coach and I have done a great job. I am known as a combined 800m and 400m athlete. But this year we focused exclusively on 400m. I had that belief even when I doubted that I deserved to be here. I’m one of the best in the world at the moment, one of the best in Europe at the moment, so I went out there and did what I know I can do.”
The medley relay is the first day and the men’s relay is at the end of the games. After his epic run in the medley, he was selected for the men’s 4-for-400, again for the first round. The team ran 2:58.88 for second place and qualified for the finals. Sam commented. “I felt really fresh going into it, so I’ll have to push a bit further tomorrow. Like the other guys, I think we have a lot more to give. Coming in at 2:58 is fine, but we want more. I think I ran well in the second half of my run, but I ran a soft first 200m. So next time I’ll attack it a little bit more.”
GB took bronze in the final in 2:55.83 but Sam did not run. However, to make the Olympic team in 11th placeth at, running three races and taking home two medals is a definite memory.
