ALTIS Series: 1 Track Mind - S2E4 - 2004 Olympic Gold Men's British 4x100 Relay

ALTIS World

For this episode we welcome four special guests! The members of the Athens 2004 Gold Medal winning British 4x100m Relay Team. It is not everyday one gets to chat with an entire Olympic relay squad and listen to their perspectives. The four members that shocked the world with their victory are:

Jason Gardener

Darren Campbell

Marlon Devonish

Mark Lewis-Francis

These four gentlemen published a book around their Olympic exploits, their experience growing up as minorities in Great Britain and the aftermath of winning Gold.

The book is called Our Race: The Untold Story of an All-Time Sporting Shock

Available via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B3RPRV7/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

If you enjoy this podcast episode, we urge you to check out the book!

0:30 Introductions

4:20 Talk to us about the preparation. What was the relay training situation like?

7:30 How often had you four run in this formation before the Athens Games? With all the ups and downs you'd had individually and collectively, how come you had so much belief that Athens would be your moment?

12:00 What were the main hurdles you had to overcome in order to negotiate your personal rivalries and gel as a group?

18:45 Usually in relay squads members have different roles, can you describe your role within the team.

22:15 What was the time in the call room and then on the track like before the finals?

32:10 Walk us through the race from leg to leg (handing off to one another). What were you aware of while you were running?

42:00 Once a 4x1 runner hands off the baton, they basically become a spectator. What did the first three legs think as you watch the race unfold and the seeing Mark speeding down the homestretch?

51:45 How did winning gold feel? Does winning the ultimate prize in sport make it all worth it? How did you feel about competing after you became champions?

58:30 How do you feel your individual upbringings contributed to making you world-class athletes?

1:17:00 How do you guys feel that your achievements are viewed and recognized in Britain and elsewhere?

1:29:00 How did the book come about? Why have you chosen this route to publication? What do you hope the book helps change?