I experienced one of the most iconic and emotional Olympic moments ever, now at the age of 59 I make my return to sport

A track and field legend responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history is returning to professional sport – at the age of 59.

Derek Redmond is known to many for the incredible scenes at the 1992 Olympic Games when his father Jim helped him cross the finish line of the men’s 400 meters after he tore his hamstring.

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Now the 59-year-old has been selected to play at the 2025 Basketball World Cup for the British men’s 55+ team.

After having to retire from basketball in 1994 for medical reasons, Redmond went on to play professional basketball for Birmingham Bullets and England.

He will join the British club The Federation of Masters Basketball Association (FIMBA), which offers the opportunity to continue to perform at international level for all age groups from 35 years and older.

Speaking to high performance training providers Champions (UK) plc, Redmond said: “I am obviously very excited.

“It reverses the years of preparation for a major competition like the World Cup.

“It all brings new challenges, a bit of excitement, a bit of fear, a bit of a step into the unknown.

“I think my advantage is that I’ve competed at the highest level, so I don’t suffer from stage fright and things like that.

“I think my biggest concern or concern is whether I can still perform at that level, and I’m not going to make a complete fool of myself.”

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Redmond is a versatile athlete and after his athletics career he has also competed in rugby 7s, boxing, martial arts and motorcycle racing.

The former Olympian has indicated that he wants to continue performing professionally for as long as possible.

He added: “Even at 59, I’m not giving up. People always think, ‘Why are you still boxing at your age?’ Well, why not?

“You know when I’m going to stop? When I can’t climb into a hoop or run up and down a basketball court anymore.

“I don’t have a time limit for that kind of stuff. It’s pretty cool to do anyway. I

“It’s great because it shows that I practice what I preach in my work. And I love challenges. I just can’t stop trying. I wish I could.

“I woke up after basketball practice with sore knees and thought, What the hell am I going to do? But I’m going back next week! I’m like that person who gets drunk, has a terrible hangover, says he’ll never get drunk again, and then does the same thing the next week!”

Today, Redmond is also a well-known speaker and corporate training provider.

He was previously Director of Development for Sprints and Hurdles at UK Athletics.

He continued, “It means a lot to me, because of what I do for a living now, talking about resilience, talking about never giving up, being brave, trying new things. I think this is an example of that, and I pretty much practice what I preach.”

The 2025 World Championships will take place in Ticino, Switzerland, from June 27 to July 6, 2025.

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