One of the indelible images of the London Olympic Games took place on the podium in the athletics stadium. Not Usain Bolt and Mo Farah posing together at the end of the final night of athletics competition on Saturday, but last Monday, when Felix Sanchez stepped up to receive gold for the 400m hurdles.

It had the makings of a run-of-the-mill presentation to just another track and field gold medallist. Aged 34 and competing in his fourth Olympics, Sanchez was not even collecting his first Olympic gold.

But on climbing the podium, Sanchez wept buckets. The crowd, seeing the Dominican totally overcome, let out a roar mixing affection and admiration.

Full article:
Why the Olympics Needs Its Unsung Heroes – The Financial Times – August 12th, 2012
By Roger Blitz
Link to Financial Times article