BY THE TIME the women’s heptathlon got under way on Friday August 3, London had already become enveloped in Olympic fever.
But Britain was still missing something.
They had politely cheered and commended the amazing feats in the Acquatic Centre and gratefully accepted the medals that came through from the road races, shooting, the equestrian and rowing teams, and the surprise of Michael Jamieson in the pool… but they craved more.
As the centre-piece to the BBC’s Olympic coverage, Michael Johnson brought some unrivalled experience to the table.
He spoke eloquently at the pressure that comes when you’re not just a medal-hope for your country, but the face of the Games. An image of perfection to remind a nation that the sporting year doesn’t die down when the Super Bowl stops:
“I had already been into my professional career for six years and had not won an individual gold medal at the Olympics. There was a tremendous amount of pressure going into 1996 to get it done,” Johnson told the BBC.
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“First of all you have to acknowledge the pressure, but you can’t ignore it. That’s the mistake a lot of athletes make.”
Like Johnson, the face of the London Games was not a veteran of the Olympic scene.
In 2012, Jessica Ennis was everywhere.
Recently Ennis told a story on the Graham Norton Show about how she was put off a splurge in her strict diet because her local chipper was sat behind an advertisement depicting her in a full-on ab-crunching action pose.
‘I can’t come out eating a bag of chips beside that’. She told herself, and on she went.
As she stood on the start-line, her face finally began to show the strain. The newspaper headlines demanded gold medals and here she was in front of 80,000 people who would grumble and groan were she to lose.
She waved at them with a smile as they shrieked in support. She choked back an opportunity to cry.
In Johnson’s words she ‘got it done’ and then some. Ennis’ opening event in the heptathlon was the 100 metre hurdles and her time of 12.54 seconds was the faster than any other multi-eventing woman in history.
Amidst all the unbearable pressure, the wave of emotion that would either carry or drown her, Ennis pulled through and took the lead.
She was in her stride now, comfortable in the knowledge that this was now a round of events like any other. With multiple European first place finishes and a world champion both indoor and out, the front-runner was comfortable in her surroundings.
For Ennis, competing was the easy part. And for all watching that glorious first day of track and field, a relief.
I wish I was there: Jessica Ennis' hurdle victory at London 2012
BY THE TIME the women’s heptathlon got under way on Friday August 3, London had already become enveloped in Olympic fever.
But Britain was still missing something.
They had politely cheered and commended the amazing feats in the Acquatic Centre and gratefully accepted the medals that came through from the road races, shooting, the equestrian and rowing teams, and the surprise of Michael Jamieson in the pool… but they craved more.
As the centre-piece to the BBC’s Olympic coverage, Michael Johnson brought some unrivalled experience to the table.
He spoke eloquently at the pressure that comes when you’re not just a medal-hope for your country, but the face of the Games. An image of perfection to remind a nation that the sporting year doesn’t die down when the Super Bowl stops:
“I had already been into my professional career for six years and had not won an individual gold medal at the Olympics. There was a tremendous amount of pressure going into 1996 to get it done,” Johnson told the BBC.
“First of all you have to acknowledge the pressure, but you can’t ignore it. That’s the mistake a lot of athletes make.”
Like Johnson, the face of the London Games was not a veteran of the Olympic scene.
In 2012, Jessica Ennis was everywhere.
Recently Ennis told a story on the Graham Norton Show about how she was put off a splurge in her strict diet because her local chipper was sat behind an advertisement depicting her in a full-on ab-crunching action pose.
‘I can’t come out eating a bag of chips beside that’. She told herself, and on she went.
As she stood on the start-line, her face finally began to show the strain. The newspaper headlines demanded gold medals and here she was in front of 80,000 people who would grumble and groan were she to lose.
She waved at them with a smile as they shrieked in support. She choked back an opportunity to cry.
‘On your mark.’
BANG
YouTube credit: tennisclipsonline11
In Johnson’s words she ‘got it done’ and then some. Ennis’ opening event in the heptathlon was the 100 metre hurdles and her time of 12.54 seconds was the faster than any other multi-eventing woman in history.
Amidst all the unbearable pressure, the wave of emotion that would either carry or drown her, Ennis pulled through and took the lead.
She was in her stride now, comfortable in the knowledge that this was now a round of events like any other. With multiple European first place finishes and a world champion both indoor and out, the front-runner was comfortable in her surroundings.
For Ennis, competing was the easy part. And for all watching that glorious first day of track and field, a relief.
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