My favourite running moment was watching Andrew Lloyd win the Commonwealth gold medal for the 5000m in 1990. One day I would love to do an “Andrew Lloyd”, i.e. pip someone for gold who has thought he has won. I would also love to find a video of this moment; so if you have one or can acquire one, PLEASE add it to YouTube!” The following picture and story are from sporting-heroes.net:
ANDREW LLOYD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 1990 Commonwealth 5000m Champion
Andrew Lloyd's determination to fight back against impossible odds was not only evident in the greatest victory of his career, but also in life itself. Although Lloyd had shown his distance running potential on the track early in his career, it was in the marathon that he achieved his earliest successes. He won the Melbourne marathon in 1979, 1980 and 1981, and recorded a career best of 2hr 14min 36sec in 1984. On the track, Lloyd's first major success was winning the 5000m/10000m double at the 1985 Australian Championships. Later that year, Andrew suffered serious injuries in a car accident that claimed the life of his first wife. Lloyd slowly regained his fitness, although the injuries sustained in the accident would necessitate seven operations over time to his right ankle and right elbow. Lloyd participated at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul where he failed to finish in his heat of the 10000m, and was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 5000m. The 5000m final at Seoul was memorable because the winner John Ngugi (Kenya) established an enormous lead over the field in the early stages which he never relinquished. Ngugi tried exactly the same tactics in the 5000m final at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland on 1 February 1990. Ngugi had a 40-metre lead at the bell, with the runners behind him, led by Ian Hamer (Wales), starting to make their moves as they fought for the minor medals. Lloyd battled Hamer for second place around the last lap, finally passing the Welshman soon after entering the straight. At this stage Ngugi's lead still seemed unassailable, but he was starting to falter, and sensing his chance, Lloyd produced an incredible finishing burst (see photo above), to just pip Ngugi at the line by a mere 0.08 seconds. (Ron Casey)
AS CLOSE TO A HERO AS I HAVE
ANDREW LLOYD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 1990 Commonwealth 5000m Champion
Andrew Lloyd's determination to fight back against impossible odds was not only evident in the greatest victory of his career, but also in life itself. Although Lloyd had shown his distance running potential on the track early in his career, it was in the marathon that he achieved his earliest successes. He won the Melbourne marathon in 1979, 1980 and 1981, and recorded a career best of 2hr 14min 36sec in 1984. On the track, Lloyd's first major success was winning the 5000m/10000m double at the 1985 Australian Championships. Later that year, Andrew suffered serious injuries in a car accident that claimed the life of his first wife. Lloyd slowly regained his fitness, although the injuries sustained in the accident would necessitate seven operations over time to his right ankle and right elbow. Lloyd participated at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul where he failed to finish in his heat of the 10000m, and was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 5000m. The 5000m final at Seoul was memorable because the winner John Ngugi (Kenya) established an enormous lead over the field in the early stages which he never relinquished. Ngugi tried exactly the same tactics in the 5000m final at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland on 1 February 1990. Ngugi had a 40-metre lead at the bell, with the runners behind him, led by Ian Hamer (Wales), starting to make their moves as they fought for the minor medals. Lloyd battled Hamer for second place around the last lap, finally passing the Welshman soon after entering the straight. At this stage Ngugi's lead still seemed unassailable, but he was starting to falter, and sensing his chance, Lloyd produced an incredible finishing burst (see photo above), to just pip Ngugi at the line by a mere 0.08 seconds. (Ron Casey)
AS CLOSE TO A HERO AS I HAVE
