OF FATHERS AND FINISH LINES

Jim Robertson finally caught a glimpse of his son, Derek, as he positioned himself at the starting line.

Despite eight surgeries worth of injuries, Derek had qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as one of the favorites and Jim was so proud.

A shot rang out and Derek ran fiercely, with Jim cheering him on.

Then it happened.

Just after the 250 meter mark, Derek fell to the ground, pain across his face, and watched his chances at gold fade into a cloud of dust. Still, he was determined to finish. Watching the agony that flashed across his son’s face with every broken hop, Jim fought his way through the crowds.
Others saw a defeated athlete but Jim saw a boy in need of his father. Making his way past security, he took his weeping son into his arms and whispered into his ear,

“Look, you don’t need to do this. You can stop now, you haven’t got nothing to prove.”

But Derek was determined and so Jim half-carried him for the remaining 100 meters, pushing away anyone who attempted to deter them.
65,000 onlookers rose to their feet in a standing ovation as father and son crossed the finish line.

Few people can name the man who won the 400 meter race that year but countless people have been inspired by the father who defied an arena’s authorities to wrap his weeping child in his arms, sharing his strength with him, so they could cross the finish line together.

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CHERI GRISSOM
Cheri Grissom works with music and media at Gateway UPC. Read her bio here.

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