Redmond's father to carry torch

London — Twenty years after helping his injured son across the finish line in Barcelona, Jim Redmond was selected Tuesday to carry the Olympic flame during the torch relay for the London Games.

Redmond is one of the British Olympic Association's nominated torchbearers for the 8,000-mile (1,287-km) nationwide relay that starts in May and culminates with the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27.

Redmond created one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history in 1992 with his spontaneous act to help his crying, injured son during a semifinal of the 400 meters. With Derek Redmond hobbling badly with a torn hamstring, his father ran onto the track and virtually carried him the rest of the way.

"I saw my (son) having a problem and it was my duty to help," Redmond said Tuesday. "I actually went on the track to try to stop him inflicting further damage to himself. It was Derek's idea. . . . He asked me to get him back in that lane and I offered him a shoulder to lean on."

View the original article here