TOKYO 1991 4X400m Relay memories

Team GB retrospectively look back on the epic relay from the 1991 World Championships.

[@julianhodgson1961]

I’m 61 years young now and that has to be one of my all time favourite sporting memories 👏👏👏

[@vodkaboris]

Akabusi should get another gold medal just for the way he tells it. His impression of Pettigrew's head movement is hilarious!

[@rambales8629]

hes like part time comedian!

[@oliveringram3056]

FANTASSSSTICCCC....

[@George-v5c5n]

The way he said he told JR...DO NOT give me the baton two metres up but two metres down on the final changeover must have had JR scratching his head 😂

[@npm2457]

Chris Akabusi is a legend. Great athlete, great man.

[@paulndor848]

Nick Moger Kriss Akabusi even, lol

[@noreenrolph1680]

I’ve just re run the race AGAIN…priceless.

[@paulgush]

I remember seeing these 4 on BBC Blue Peter after they won. They were so much fun, and laughed so much! And Kris Akabusi, what a story teller!

[@ynotnilknarf39]

nick, nick, nick, nick, nick, Akabusi is comedy gold. Best relay ever and the four of them are effing legends!

[@adellittle2370]

One of my favourite British sporting moments. Fantastic. 😁

[@paulrispin4989]

I remember this so clearly. Shouting at the tv down the last 100m. The Brits were a real team. Prior to this the US had been winning the 4 x 400 by 20 meters. Unbelievable achievement from the boys. Such togetherness as a team. Met Roger Black in Fareham in around 95. Absolute gentleman. Fantastic athlete too. Best performance by a UK relay team in history.

[@nelsonholmes6174]

Ha, ha. Roger "pretty boy Black" you gotta love Kris Akabusi. What a guy, what a runner.

[@wycliffefahie607]

" Akabusi, the main man." What a character

[@kurman4749]

Those four athletes were simply incredible. This is a memory that will stay with me forever.

[@kevinprior3549]

Akabusi the mad man and still is. But we love him

[@George-v5c5n]

Crazy nuts brilliant 😂

[@monoelmono9476]

Watching sports all me life this has to be there in my top 3 of all time. As a kid I couldn't believe Regis who was my favourite sprinter was running 400m and ran magnificently. Black and Redmond fantastic, as for Akabusi bloody hell, that's something I would have day dreamed but he pulled that off, I still get nervous he won't do it. Great memories, great team

[@wakstar1]

I couldn’t agree more. Loved big 2 chest john Regis.

[@jeffallinson8089]

My favourite track event ever. I never tire of watching this and this clip of their recollection of the race is priceless. I love it, great upload.

[@surajssubramanian7327]

A superb relay race. Probably the greatest relay race ever

[@glynfrench5123]

A typical example of guts and determination.Makes you proud to be British.

[@Pragwo1f]

Great friends, great athletes, great Brits.

[@jaysomastandup]

one of the greatest races I have ever seen, love the 4 x 400m

[@bennevisplace]

Big thanks Mitogen. There have been some historic GB athletics performances, but this has to be my favourite. The US always wins the men's 4x400 don't they? Not this time. Fascinating to hear the story from the boys themselves - Great Brits indeed.

[@jazzmanflyer]

Amazing memories recounted by an amazing team. You 4 guys achieved the seemingly impossible and gave us all great pleasure and excitement watching you deliver the goods. And boy, do I love the way you all recount the story of that incredible performance! Thanks Guys!

[@andyh1408]

I remember this very well. Crikey, almost 30 years ago. Amazing performance! Also the best long jump final of all time at these champs

[@noreenrolph1680]

My husband & l were flying from Heathrow to Toronto..my brother was picking us up at 10.00… the race was at 10.00.. I wasn’t leaving till they’d run it..& won it…l watch it often & still scream to Kris..4 amazing men.

[@granvillewalkerjr.8394]

One thing I must admit about GB, their athletes are typically a classy group, win or lose. That is the occupational hazard of being king when you're dethroned by however slight a margin, the new one has quite a thrill that will never die. As this piece proves.

[@ski-retro]

Kriss Akabussi is a legend. If I had a penny for everytime I heard that mans laugh...

[@stevecrocker6904]

what a great clip. Akabusi is such a story teller. I remember watching this at home in Australia and being gobsmacked. The Brits had been good across the board for 10/12 years in the middle distance and some sprint events but I never expected this. The sad thing that continues to this day is when we see U.S. athletes finishing second and they're in despair as failures - and I think what sort of "sport" is it when we feel entitled to win? Where's the enjoyment when it's expected. I've never seen Americans show the joy shown here by the Brits

[@111Matu]

Thanks for posting this! I'm an athletics enthusiast from Finland and I've always considered this one of the great epic battles on the track.

[@Too_Toxiic]

Hands down, best track clip on the tube!

[@TheIkaraCult]

I remember John Regs back when i was a kid, he was class

[@derrickyeo4451]

Great performance but the big man John Regis a 200m specialist, given a job to do and delivered.

[@bigjob7551]

Akabusi laughing in his ear, Roger your a diamond.

[@bigjob7551]

A monster run from Regis.

[@74subutai]

Still makes me tear up. What an epic victory. Great guys too

[@Jairzinho121]

One of the best British sporting achievements in living memory.

[@jontyarnold8522]

Akabusi ……….lovely bloke, great athlete….one of the great sporting moments…..🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@aaronkoeppe9057]

I love kriss akabusi's energy lol.reminds me of the Bahamas beating the usa in london 2012.its nice how someone else gets a chance to win gold congrats to GB!

[@Shelbourner]

"We were confident but we were not complacent". Well said.

[@timharmoni1846]

Brilliant video. Legends all. Thanks for the memories.

[@GIBBO4182]

Johnny “2 chests” Regis! 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheNickyshaw]

Every time I watch this I still end up screaming at Kris at the tv screen!, great win guys

[@stephenstafford8047]

Theres not a lot I can remember but I can remember this race going mad shouting for the lads,very happy memories.

[@APBCTechnique]

Those 4 runners are all legends of British athletics. Derrick Redmond was unlucky with injuries. He had the ability to be a world record holder and individual champion

[@annasutton8078]

A great moment in 4×400 relay for G.B. Loved it then, love it now what a great combo.

[@andyetfc]

Sat and listened to Kris tell this story at Bishop Stopford School prize giving many years ago. He even got all the pupils to stand on their chairs and clap and cheer him when he finished his motivational speech.

[@johnavery3941]

Always come back to this to see how underdogs can win when they have the right plan.

[@Bluesdirections]

A great quartet and a measured experiment that worked.

[@adellittle3547]

Purely and simply John cos you were a natural at it. 😁

[@midnightmilo]

boys if you're watching we all still remember we all still love you :D

[@stikndip]

Great memories, great athletes, great guys.

[@graemestarkey7524]

Always thought Kriss Akabusi needed a bit more laughter in his life.

[@noreenrolph4364]

I watch this often and STILL scream at Kris...in fact we were flying to Toronto & l wouldn’t leave home till we’d won.

[@Lardinho78]

beautiful running, wonderful achievement

[@Coultermark23]

Just noticed roger had white shorts on and the others had blue, he obviously never got the memo 😂

[@hazelwalsh3269]

Just Pure Class!!

[@6anatolyy4]

Just watched that for the first time. Loved it. Thank you.

[@sjdover69]

Love you guys. Eloquent good guys who do a professional job, and more. Proud.

[@gezzarandom]

Not trying to take anything away from this brilliant achievement, but did you notice a certain someone was missing from the USA team? That selection has baffled pundits and ex-athletes to this day.

[@wakstar1]

This is just epic.

[@Media-101-Prod]

What a beautiful moment

[@bigpete4864]

Legendary!!🙌

[@cottonmouth6369]

Wow what a story - congratulations

[@lynhjensen790]

As an American, obviously I was disappointed, but there is no question that the Brits enjoyed this victory far more than the Americans would have. As Chris Berman might say, "On paper, Americans will win. But that's why they race."

[@jibsmokestack1]

Great memories!

[@aaroncanniford9237]

Makes you so proud to be British ❤️🤍💙

[@missstanley1977]

remember it so well. amazing

[@gordonroy7860]

A brilliant memory

[@pammacgregor3675]

I enjoyed the interview as much as the race brill

[@shockjay]

I'm happy that Great Britian won. They earned it by having a 400 M runner on thier anchor leg. Nevertheless, let's not forget that it was USA Track & Field that neglected to put Michael Johnson on the relay team. His exclusion was the difference between the US finishing first and second.

[@gezzarandom]

Michael said on BBC tv that his rival Carl Lewis’s coach was the selector who said they didn’t need him to win. He was looking a bit smug when he said that and who could blame him? 😂

[@mrblueeyes7889]

BRILLIANT!

[@htownhomie06]

i stand corrected. 97 worlds was a very tight race, lol.

[@6anatolyy4]

Kris Akabusi, what a nice guy

[@ralucagymnast]

The poker faces on the Americans on the podium are just epic xD For them I suppose the idea of losing just didnt apply to them....how wrong they were;)

[@htownhomie06]

the most exciting men's 4x4 in Worlds history, and no other country's been close to the USA since. although 2011 on the 20th anniversary this might be the year another country runs the US men to the wire?

[@OldBillSykes]

Chris Akabusi for Prime Minister... he could get away with anything "..we WILL be going to war, there will be massive tax increases and the NHS will no longer be free... aaalllwwwiiiiiigghht!" *rotates fist in the air* I'd vote for him every time!

[@danielbones3072]

Great story.

[@jamiegormer1010]

30 years ago this year , remember it like yesterday , The great thing about this race there was no controversy,with dropped battens ,it was won by pure guts and determination ,

[@meisterlymanu5214]

pettigrew was a cheat, got caught too and stripped of his medals. and uk still beat him..punk.

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

Actually I do think Americans are often excellent sports, and quick to congratulate and be gracious toward those who beat them in a competition. Much of the bad rap is, I feel, unwarranted, but ... Anyway, I'm an American and I love this race and the story behind it. Nothing but huge applause from this Yank! :)

[@gavinandrews843]

I think the whole ungraciousness was actually, just expecting the americans to win this event as they usually do! i was a sportsman and i was gutted to lose to teams i should have beat! us brits get on great with the yanks!

[@njclondon2009]

4 legends of british atheltics

[@freaksy2073]

Fabulous 😂 👏

[@201081hero]

@Snauzer67 Because somebody on the US management decided they didnt need him despite having the best 400m time of 1991. Its not like he had to run the US 400m trials to get selected - Regis didnt run the UK 400m and he was put in.

[@TheNickyshaw]

Kris is a super guy

[@MITOGEN]

@QueenCordy1 Cheers :) Yeah sad to see our current team can't even medal.

[@ralucagymnast]

Truly one of the greatest moments in sporting history; and who doesnt love Kris Akabusi??Hes fantastic!!So animated:) Seriously these guys were incredible. I have always wondered though why Michael Johnson wasnt in the USA team for this?Of course it was to our benefit that he wasnt;)

[@MITOGEN]

You're welcome :)

[@evilzzzability]

Akabussi is hilarious 😂😂

[@johnavery3918]

best race aver

[@201081hero]

On the podium at the end of the video John Regis getting on it tripped and nearly fell and Roger Black threw his cuddly toy up in the air and his medal flew off behind him. Nearly 20yrs on this is still one of the best relay races ever.

[@MegaKennedy2000]

Akabusi du bist ein cooler Hund.

[@gdeec]

Hahahahahaha, the best story tellers.

[@ThreeEscapeas]

loll love it!

[@kevinprior3549]

Regis was a bit of a gamble...but it worked

[@dizzybees]

Kris Akabusi is the best!

[@mrbigshot1986]

quality

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

I liked this, but enjoyed the "Times of Our Lives" quite a bit more.

[@michaellloyd6042]

As an Aussie I hate the sight of the UK winning (Lets forget the 2012 Olympics). In saying that I enjoyed listening to these four lads speak of working for each other and enjoying each other's company.

[@eddiehearns2591]

It's Britain, not UK. And why do you hate seeing Britain winning? We love our Aussie cousins.

[@DeeJay_78]

Why? What a horrible thing to say. Forget London 2012 why exactly?

[@BernardFlubbadooFilm]

We hate the sodding Koala abusers.

[@DeeJay_78]

Be silent silly man. Forgetting 2012? As in, the Olympics voted the greatest ever, even when British voters were excluded? Back in your corner

[@KingOfPing1]

Rule, Britannia!

[@bbatjargal1549]

Dong dong Pettigrew

[@morrisparrish76]

Maybe it’s just me but WTF was Michael Johnson?

[@daviddean8695]

Akabusiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[@TheSteve0306]

Errr ... you are wrong. 4 x 400 Gold for UK world champships 1997, admitted the UK finished second, but the US disqualified for drug cheating. Olympic Champs Gold for the UK in 2004 Athens 4 x 100. RESPECT.

[@thescatman5029]

And they still talking ****!

[@AdyMcSteve]

alriiiiiggghhhhtttt