Читать книгу Indiana University Olympians. From Leroy Samse to Lilly King онлайн

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“Sometimes we have to sacrifice our body and our mind and our spirit for what we really want,” he said.

This time he did take a victory lap, albeit a slow one. He repeatedly stopped and crouched, wrapped in an American flag, while making his way around the Bird’s Nest. He hugged his wife and parents, who came to the rail to share in the celebration.

The reluctant quarter-miler had thus run the three fastest 400s of his life in the most unconventional way—all out of the outside lane.

“I didn’t look behind, I didn’t look back, and I just kept my eye focused on the prize that was ahead,” Neville said. “That’s why I have medal around my neck right now.”

Although acknowledging he felt “pretty beat up,” he was chosen to run a semifinal of the 4×400 relay for Team USA. He ended his leadoff leg in first place with a time of 44.92, and the Americans won to qualify for the final a day later. Team USA coach Bubba Thornton said Neville deserved to run the final after diving for bronze in the 400 meters. It had not been a particularly successful Olympics for Team USA, so Thornton exhorted the relay team to “kick butt.” Which is what they did.