Mens 4x400 Relay Final : World Championships, Tokyo 1991

[burygirl123]

Roger Black came into our school today, He's so inspirational, he showed us this and told us how they used tactics to beat the Americans, which had never been done before, How his silver medal fpr the european championships meantgold to him. He really is an Inspiration, they all are :)

[burygirl123]

Roger Black came into our school today, He's so inspirational, he showed us this and told us how they used tactics to beat the Americans, which had never been done before, he said jow

[classicsteve720]

The unsung hero of this relay was Regis, holding Everett to a draw on the third leg. Everett had won the 400m Olympic bronze in 1988 and the 400m World Championships bronze in 1991 and was the Pre- Olympic favorite in 1992 before getting hurt. Regis' best distance was 200m.yet he was able to hang tight the entire lap giving GB a chance on the anchor. Relays bring out amazing things in people. Great stuff.

[BeestonBrawler]

Couldn't even beat our lads with PEDs

[fungboy3]

Pettigrew the guy who ran the last leg for the US died last year but admitted doping in latter years so his repuitation is tarnished forever

[fungboy3]

Quincy Watts was Olympic champion in 1992 and did a time of 43.50 which was the 2nd fastest then and then suddenly disappeared off the radar when Michael Johnson decided to do 400m as well

Apparently the US were considering putting in Michael Johnson but there was a squabble between his coach and the relay coach who was Carl Lewis' coach so that was Britains gain

I remember watching this whilst on holiday and it was great to see the Americans beaten

[davemacc904]

Akabusi had some big legs down the home straight. The finest 45 seconds of his life.

[stuartmellor04]

USA hunted down! GB grit!

[stuartmellor04]

USA Hunted down! UK grit!

[ewaf88]

Wow what a race - I remember watching this live and was glad the Kris was tucked in behind on the final leg. We don't seem to have the same caliber of runners at the moment. Come on lads!

[jahovia11]

Fantastic race just shows what Tactics,Ability,the will to win, can overcome the odds true champions.

[sheboingo]

Fenomenal race, hats off to British team. A small sidenote; Yugoslavian team just missed the bronze, they however set the fastest time in history (albeit it in semifinal heat) for all-caucasian relay. The record still stands at 2:59:95. Impressive, considering the lack of funding and popularity of the sport. They were missing their anchor as well, he was injured prior to the championship.

[mezzer99]

Perhaps one of the little known facts was that Roger Black had a leaky heart valve and only had surgery once he stopped competing. Just think of the athlete he would have been without that condition. Incredible.

[Snauzer67]

What a fantastic race. I did not know that John Rigs ran 400m lol. Wow impressive. Sad that Pettigrew is no longer with us.

[TiredandKrabi]

the commentator didn't have a clue what the plan was. Akabusi didn't want a lead going into the final leg - Pettigrew was world champion and would have run him down with ease. GB's only chance was to tuck in behind and lull the USA into a false sense of security. Pettigrew took it easy thinking he could blow Akabusi away at any time. Kris hung back and saved himself for the final push. That's why the final leg was the slowest.

[abvgvideos]

BIG RACE!!!

[cayenneturbot]

usual moronic commentary from Coleman....misinterpreting everything he sees.

[uhegbu]

And the gamble paid off. They certainly played their part.

[xcrunner000]

1 of 2 biggest upsets of GB vs US relays.

this one & the 2004 4x1 final.

[ace51515]

great brita in great bri tain great brit ain

[agbagbg]

CHRIS AKABUSI IS THE MAN!!!

[zenim64]

i met him in school look up jhon regis wmv

[michduncan]

@zenim64 me too, i have a photo of myself sat on his lap. God love superschools!

[zenim64]

@michduncan lol

[dizzybees]

I remember watching this as a teenager and my Dad going nuts at the TV too- simply brilliant. Thanks for posting this!

[NPA1001]

Without doubt one of the greatest British sports moments of all time. I remember being 17 years old at the time and it was about 10am on a Sunday morning and I was jumping around the living room punchng the air when Akabusi crossed the line. When it came out that Pettigrew was cheat a few years later it made it all the sweeter.

[Daz555Daz]

I can't believe how cool Coleman was during his commentary during one of British sport's greatest upsets!

[nickthefox72]

ah....the memories.its always nice to get one over on our moneyfuelled american cousins....

[steelerbacker58]

I'm American as well--In retrospect, Pettigrew was on PEDs, so it's probably best we lost. Danny Everett--great guy.

[superslystallion91]

GET IN THERE MY SON!!! I was talking to Derek Redmond today and he is an awesome bloke.

[KingOfPing1]

Rule, Britannia!

[P27Barreta]

Im american, and though i would've rather seen the U.S. win, i must give my respects to the british team. Great race.

[sipower1965]

I am a big sports fan but not athletics really .... but if anyone asks me my favourite sporting moment - its this .... Akabusi going round Pettigrew ... its the essence of wonderful sport - what the olympic spirit is all about .... what a moment - thanks for posting

[idontsignin]

i was only 11 when this happend and i couldnt fully understand why my dad was going bonkers at the tv.

[richardmiles21]

This is up there in a list of Great British sporting moments, way up there!

[mc1703]

@richardmiles21 When it comes to athletics it doesn't get much better than a 4x400m relay, and this one is a cracker. Akabusi ran a stormer, but best leg has to go to Regis!

[Chukojc94]

wow great job britain (Y) :)

[AndyWilletts1]

This race is one of my favourite sporting moments of all time.

[Up4adrop]

@AndyWilletts1 ......mine to.

[BeestonBrawler]

Did anybody notice how long it took Quincy Watts to break on the second leg?

He was nearly on the top bend!

[csportmaria]

That is the best and SHORTEST way.

[byakuyakuchiki7]

wow he was the 400 meter champ and lost a 3 meter lead huh..dang that's gotta haunt him

[mrcatohead]

@byakuyakuchiki7 yeah but he was leading which is allways gonna be harder, and the GB bloke only had to sit and kick. and there is no way that thats 3 metres, you can see its not in the video. if he got the baton in 2nd place and GB were in first place he probably would have just sat and kicked over the top of him like this

[byakuyakuchiki7]

i only said 3 meters because that's what the announcer said, i wouldn't be shocked if the gap was closer..

in either case, i don't find the "sitting back and kicking at the end" completely justifies as an excuse, i think the gb guy ran a great leg in the end, and sitting back and passing a guy at the end isn't that easy

[rneoman]

@mrcatohead the american in the last leg was the world champion , no excuses please.

[shockjay]

This relay race would have been run by the U.S. if they had allowed Michael Johnson to run. We deserved to lose--one of the many decisions that have affected American relay races in Olympics and World Championships.

[AlanTheAthleticsFan]

Im not even sure Johnson himself knows why he wasnt on this team. Doesnt make sense as he ran 44.17 in July but hey its history now

[butler372]

drug users are fabulous1111

[eXodusVV]

Does anyone know the split times of the GB team?

[fatbelly27]

44.6, 44.1, 44.3, 44.5 - that's some team!

John Regis didn't run solo 400s but has some of the fastest split times by a British athlete.

[eXodusVV]

That is very fast. Akabusi awsome final leg

[yortsandthat]

Beats 1966 any day!

[pretzelberg]

"Redmond's time 44.1 - so Watts ran a stormer".

Classic Coleman!

[mastershredder93]

phenomenal! - what a fantastic race. I remember watching it at the time and nearly jumping through the ceiling in celebration!!. I was lucky to meet Roger Black a couple of years back at an after dinner function and we spoke about 'the race' probably being the greatest Gold medal ever won. Thanks for the memories guys - brilliant!!

[AlanTheAthleticsFan]

wasnt that the Harrison brothers?

[trickygoose]

CJ Hunter was a shot putter.

[trickygoose]

CJ Hunter was a shot putter & Decker a middle distance runner. On the other hand the American record is shocking!

[butler372]

hey, i only cheer for the drug users, as a fan, i only want to see the best performances, no matter what!!!! i could care less if they take PED'S

[broadjumper1]

@johnnyjohnboy1980 - A bitter little wank, aren't you? As a matter of fact neither Andrew Valmon, Qunicy Watts nor Danny Everett ever tested postive for any PED. Yes, cheaters have helped to destroy a lot of the credibility of this sport, but don go acting like the UK is like some virginal prom queen, you've had your share of cheats as well. And the US still has the worlds greatest 400 men, always will.

[saladinabu]

@broadjumper1 Dont be a hater.

[broadjumper1]

@saladinabu - Settin' the facts straight isn't hatin'...

[Leete79]

Thanks so much! I've been looking for this for bloody ages. Brings a tear to my eye. One of those sporting occasions where everyone can remember exactly where they were. Must watch it a few more times before it gets removed!! Cheers

[slozzie1]

Brilliant....!

[mopple13]

OMG I remember watching this round at my Uncles house and going absolutely bananas when Akabusi came round that last bend. I used to love watching him doing the 400 hurdles and I just thought he might have enough in the tank to hold on. What a race!

[llcoolste]

this was on Channel Fours 100 greatest sporting moments and its a bloody stormer!!!

[mc1703]

this is the stuff!!!

[gulf177]

Ah, good call! Truly awesome - I remember watching this live and going nuts when Akabusi took it! They fooled the yanks by running Roger first, and managed to hang on at the end! Legendary.

[Shibby2142]

hacks...