The accidental medalist, Sam Reardon

This is a fun story. Sam Reardon had some drama before being named to Team GB, and he took home two medals! Great story by Stuart Weir! 

The accidental medalist, Sam Reardon

Did you hear the one about the GB athlete who was not selected for the Olympics and finished up with two medals in Paris?

Sam Reardon was injured and missed the GB trials in June, and when the team, including the relay squad, was named, he was not surprised not to be called in it.  Then Charlie Carvell had to withdraw from the Olympic team, but Sam Reardon seemed way down the pecking order.

He got a lane in the London Diamond League and ran 44.70 – a speedy time, but even then, he was told it had come too late.  So, while the team was in France, Sam was watching the opening ceremony on TV and preparing for a GB National Athletics League race for his club, Blackheath and Bromley.  Then a message came telling him that British Athletics wanted to add him to the squad but that it was past the deadline for naming athletes, so it required British Olympic Association and IOC approval.   He could not celebrate and dared not tell anyone as it might still be vetoed.  Then it was confirmed, and he had the strange task of telling his club he needed to withdraw from that National Athletics League race – as he would be going to the Olympics!

OK, he was in the squad, but presumably only as a reserve.  At least he would get to experience the Olympics. It improved when he was selected for the mixed 4 by 400 prelim, in which GB ran a National Record to win the race.  Reardon commented afterward: “I have dreamt of this moment for a long, long time. I started this sport watching London 2012, so to lead the nation in the 4x400s at the Olympic Games is a dream come true. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind week, getting called up and flying out to Paris straight away. I can’t really believe it, to be honest with you. I had a big run in London to make the team. Martyn (Rooney), Darren (Campbell), and my coach said just run like you did in London. Just attack the race, and don’t get carried away with what everyone else is doing. And I did that, so I am over the moon”.

When you are part of an NR run, it would be harsh to be dropped, and Sam kept his place for the final in a race remembered for Femke Bol almost single-handedly beating the Americans.  Britain took bronze with Sam again on the first leg.  He seemed to struggle to find words afterward:…