Tears on the Finish Line|终点线的眼泪

Tears on the Finish Line

by Olivia Wycech

Even after a tough injury, a runner was determined to cross the finish line.

　　It was the summer of 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, when Derek Redmond stepped up to the starting line of the men's 400-meter Olympic semi-final race. He had spent the better part of four years undergoing unimaginably difficult mental and physical training for this race. Tragedy struck only 150 meters into the race when the sprinter's hamstring tore apart. Redmond suddenly keeled over, and agony was painfully visible on his face. Despite his four years of grueling training, it was clear that his life-long dream of achieving an Olympic medal had been destroyed along with his hamstring.

　　Since we were children, it has been etched into our brains that sports are less about winning or losing and more about how you play the game. The Olympics have long been promoting this message, and what Redmond did next is the epitome of the Olympic spirit. Determined to finish the race, Redmond picked himself up off the ground and began hobbling towards the finish line. The pain he was experiencing turned into tears, and he sobbed uncontrollably as he struggled to reach the finish line. His father, who had been watching from the sidelines, pushed his way past authorities and physically supported his son to the finish line. Redmond finished last in the race.

　　To this day, this moment is among the saddest in sports history, but it is also one of the most moving. Redmond's determination prevailed over the physical and mental pain that he was experiencing, but shame also kept making him cover his face with his hand as he limped towards the finish line. His proud father kept removing it, and they finished the race together in what is now regarded as one of the most iconic and courageous acts of sportsmanship of all time.

 

终点线的眼泪

即使受了重伤，这名跑者也决心要通过终点线。

　　时间是 1992 年的夏天，地点是在西班牙的巴塞隆纳，当时参加奥运男子四百公尺赛跑准决赛的德瑞克‧雷蒙德正走向起跑线。为了参加这项赛事，他在过去四年中大部份的时间都在接受常人难以想象且极为困难的精神和体能训练。比赛才开始跑了一百五十公尺时悲剧就发生了，这名短跑选手的肌腱撕裂了。雷蒙德突然倒地，脸上露出十分痛苦的表情。不管他四年来的训练有多么艰辛，很明显地他想拿下奥运奖牌的这个毕生梦想伴随着他的肌腱撕裂而被摧毁了。

　　从我们孩提时期开始，『运动最重要的不是输赢，而是比赛的态度』这个观念就深深地烙印在我们的脑海中。奥运会一直以来都在推广这个观念，而雷蒙德接下来所做的正是奥运精神的最佳例子。雷蒙德决心要完成比赛，他努力从地上站起来，并开始一跛一跛地走向终点线。雷蒙德所经历的痛苦化成了泪水，当他努力前往终点线的同时，他控制不住地啜泣着。一直在场边观看他比赛的父亲推开了大会的工作人员，前去搀扶他的儿子到达终点线。雷蒙德是最后一位完成比赛的选手。

　　直至今日，这个时刻仍是运动史上最令人感伤的时刻之一，但它同时也是最感人的时刻之一。雷蒙德的决心战胜了他所经历的身体和精神上的痛苦，但当他一跛一跛地走向终点线时，耻辱感让他不停地用手摀住脸。而他自豪的父亲则不断地将他的手移开，他们一起完成了比赛，而他们的行为如今被认为是有史以来最具代表性且最勇敢，且富有运动精神的行为之一。