You cannot measure courage

"Strength is measured in pounds. Speed is measured in seconds, courage? You cannot measure courage."

 This was the message proclaimed in the video named celebrate humanity framed by international Olympic committee after witnessing a courageous act by an athlete in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

In 1991, Derek Redmond, Great Britain's best runner in the Men's 400 Meter event broke his own record (set in 1987) by 1/100th of a second. It was a National record that he held going into the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Derek's life goal was to win a Gold Medal in these games. The day came for the semi-finals in the 400 meters and Derek knew this would be the race of his life. Up against the world’s best runners, he knew that he had to do his best. When the gun sounded

Derek got off to a great start. Then suddenly about 250 meters from the finish Derek heard a pop, followed by a shooting pain that ran up his leg.His tendon had just torn. His face turned ashen.With a torn hamstring, Derek began hopping on one leg, then slowed down and fell to the track. He grabbed his leg and rolled around on the ground.

Those who were in close proximity heard him scream out in agony. All the years, the sweat, the pain, the sacrifice; all of his training had come down to these few minutes in time, and then this had to happen.

 Tears poured down Derek’s face, and all he could think was, “I don’t want to take a DNF” (did not finish). Derek couldn’t stand the thought of having DNF written beside his name at the Olympics.

 As the paramedics approached him with stretchers, he waved them off, grimacing in tears. The stunned crowd couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Gradually, they realized that Derek was not dropping out of the race. He was not limping off the track in defeat, but was actually continuing on one leg, in a fiercely determined effort to make it to the finish line.

Quitting was not a part of his vocabulary.

Derek’s father Jim, who was in the stadium, came rushing towards the track. He pushed off the officials.His father had no Olympic credentials. He wasn’t supposed to be on the track, but all he could think about was getting to his son, to help him up.

He came to Derek’s side and told him “You don’t have to do this son”. Derek refused and said “Yes I do”. Jim said “Well, then we are going to finish this together”.

And they finished the race with Derek’s pain and anguish increasing with each step. Derek put his hand across his dad’s shoulders and sobbed.

 Together, the father and son finished the race receiving a standing ovation from a crowd of over 65000.

Now, 20 years after the race, hardly a few people remember who won that semifinal or for that matter, the finals. But, all remember Derek Redmond for demonstrating the purest and most courageous example of determination.

Things don’t always work out the way you would like. But when you don’t give up you cannot fail.

 Two years after the Olympics in Barcelona, he was told by a surgeon that he would never run again or represent his country in sports. However after coming to terms with the loss of athletics as his career, he began to turn his attention to the other sports he enjoyed.

After trials at several basketball clubs, he secured a place on the Great Britain national basketball team. He signed a photo of the team to the surgeon who had assured him that he would never represent his country in sports again. 

Redmond currently does motivational speaking on the conference circuit inspiring people with his courageous story.

Courage is sometimes conscious, sometimes not. Become clear on what you really value, understand your own basis for determining right and wrong, and be willing to take the right action for the right reasons. Acting with courage more consciously and more often will be a wonderful source of fulfilment and satisfaction.

 Courage is not freedom from fear: it is being afraid and going on.

 Courage is sticking your neck out for something you believe in. It’s an action, not a thought.

 Courage is the greatest of all the virtues, because if you don’t have courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the other virtues. There is a famous quotation …

“Come to the edge” life said.

They said “We are afraid.”

“Come to the edge” life said.

They came.

It pushed them.

They flew.

 It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before, to test your limits, to break through barriers.

Never ever forget

He who loses wealth loses much;

He who loses a friend loses more;

He who loses courage loses it all.