Latest news with #JamieBaulch
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Great Britain's 4×400 relay team savours ‘really special' gold medal after 28-year wait
A member of Great Britain's men's 4x400m relay squad from the 1997 World Athletics Championships says receiving their gold medals 28 years after the race was a 'really special' moment. Roger Black finally received his gold medal alongside team-mates Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch, Mark Richardson and Mark Hylton on Saturday at London's Diamond League meeting, in front of a sold-out 60,000-capacity. Advertisement The 1997 Athens race had been won by the American team, who were later stripped of their golds due to an anti-doping violation by team member Antonio Pettigrew. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Black said not winning the race 'definitely affected' the team but being able to celebrate almost three decades later was 'more special' as they were able to share the moment with their families and children, many of whom had not been born in 1997. 'Also, more importantly, we shared it with 60,000 British fans in there and a lot of them supported us back in the day,' added Black, who also won gold with the British team in Tokyo in the 4x400m at the World Championships in 1991. 'I think pulling that together, it was actually a surprisingly emotional moment and we loved it. It was really special.' The moment was poignant for Black, who underwent successful live-saving surgery earlier this year to replace his aortic valve and repair his aortic root, the main vessel that transports blood from the heart. The results of the 1997 race were changed in 2008, when U.S. runner Pettigrew admitted to doping between 1997 and 2003. In 2010, the former sprinter was found dead at the age of 42 in his locked car with an autopsy saying he died by suicide after an overdose. 'If there was an option of giving this gold medal to him (Pettigrew), I'd rather him have the gold medal than him taking his life — his life is far more important to me than me having this gold medal,' said Great Britain's Baulch, per the Telegraph. Saturday also saw the UK government confirm it will 'provide significant funding' and be 'backing a bid' to host the 2029 World Athletics and Para Athletics Championships. (Top image: Mark Richardson, Jamie Baulch, Roger Black, Iwan Thomas and Mark Hylton (l-r) receive their gold medals:)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
28-year gold medal wait affected 4x400m team
Roger Black says the 28-year wait for the Great Britain's men's 4x400m relay squad to get their gold medals from the 1997 World Athletics Championships "affected" the team but it was "special" to finally receive them. Black, Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch and Mark Richardson - plus Mark Hylton, who ran in the heats - finished second to the USA at the event, which was held in Athens. The Americans were later stripped of the title as a result of an anti-doping violation by team member Antonio Pettigrew and the British line-up were upgraded to world champions. "It was definitely a moment taken away from us and it definitely affected us," Black - who also won gold in the 4x400m relay at the 1991 World Championships - told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I can certainly say it particularly affected Jamie, Ewan and Mark, and I know that, and me. For them, it was that they hadn't had that moment. I had had it six years earlier." Englishmen Black, Richardson and Hylton plus Welsh duo Thomas and Baulch were belatedly presented with their gold medals at Saturday's Diamond League meeting at a sold-out London Stadium. "It's been hanging over us for a very, very long time. I mean, 28 years is a long time so yesterday really completed it. It was great," added Black. "In some ways, it was more special because we were there with our families and our kids, who obviously weren't born back then. "I think Jamie had a baby then but we were able to share it with our families and you don't get to do that, do you? "Also, more importantly, we shared it with 60,000 British fans in there and a lot of them supported us back in the day. "I think pulling that together, it was actually a surprisingly emotional moment and we loved it. It was really special." Cherry Alexander, UK Athletics' strategic lead for major events, said: "We're proud to be able to give these athletes their moment in front of a home crowd. "It's a chance to recognise not just their talent, but the values they stood for. This medal means even more because of how long they've waited for it."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
GB relay team receive gold medals 28 years late
Great Britain's men's 4x400m relay team from the 1997 World Athletics Championships have received gold medals 28 years Roger Black, Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch and Mark Richardson – plus Mark Hylton, who ran in the heats – finished second to the USA at the event, which was held in the Americans were later stripped of the title as a result of an anti-doping violation by team member Antonio saw the British line-up upgraded to world champions, with Englishmen Black, Richardson and Hylton plus Welsh duo Thomas and Baulch belatedly presented with gold medals at Saturday's Diamond League meeting at a sold-out London Stadium."We're proud to be able to give these athletes their moment in front of a home crowd," said Cherry Alexander, UK Athletics' strategic lead for major events."It's a chance to recognise not just their talent, but the values they stood for. This medal means even more because of how long they've waited for it."
