Tag Archives: bedlam

Paralympics 2012: Jonnie Peacock hails noisy home crowd

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'So loud I had to ask them to quieten down' – Gold medal sprinter Peacock hails Olympic Stadium crowd

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UPDATED:

14:44 GMT, 7 September 2012

Jonnie Peacock today praised the home support that roared him to victory in the men's T44 sprint final, even though he had to quieten them down before the race began.

Peacock, 19, left his rivals, including Oscar Pistorius, trailing in his wake as he stormed to 100 metres gold in a Paralympic record 10.90 seconds at the Olympic Stadium.

British fans, on a high after David Weir's third gold of the Games in the men's T54 800m, chanted Peacock's name before his race and the Cambridge sprinter had to call for quiet before the finalists went into their blocks.

Look what I won! Jonnie Peacock with his gold medal after storming to victory in the T44 Men's 100m final on Thursday night

Look what I won! Jonnie Peacock with his gold medal after storming to victory in the T44 Men's 100m final on Thursday night

Recalling the pre-race bedlam, Peacock told Channel 4: 'That was absolutely mad. I knew Dave Weir would win before I went out and that the crowd would be on such a high but I didn't expect it would be as mad as it was. They were cheering so loud.

'I went out there and thought 'I'm not going to block out the crowd, it's impossible'. Also, at the end of the day, I wanted to enjoy it. I'm so proud to be British and I do think the crowd has made these Paralympics. It will stay with me forever.

'I enjoyed it but then it's business time. We're professional athletes and you've got to be quiet for the set. I thought, 'I need to quieten them down, I didn't want to put anyone (the other finalists) off'. If you have to tell them to be quiet you have to tell them to be quiet.'

Here's Jonnie! The Brit crosses the line ahead of the South African bronze medallist Arnu Fourie

Here's Jonnie! The Brit crosses the line ahead of the South African bronze medallist Arnu Fourie

Pistorius was quick to congratulate Peacock immediately after the race.

'It's a bit of a blur,' said Peacock.

'All I remember is crossing the line thinking 'I've won' and then thinking 'have I won' Then it came up on the board. I was so pleased and I just gave him (Pistorius) a big hug. He said 'I told you you'd do it'.

Peacock managed to keep calm before the race despite the noisy backing and the faulty start by Brazilian Alan Fonteles Oliveira.

You were great! Peacock has praised the Olympic Stadium crowd, even saying he had to quieten them down so he could concentrate on the race

You were great! Peacock has praised the Olympic Stadium crowd, even saying he had to quieten them down so he could concentrate on the race

'I felt so prepared for these Games that it's the first time I've entered a race and not felt nervous.

'I asked my coach – 'where are the nerves' I think it was because I felt so prepared. Everything I'd done all year was leading up to last night.'

Ryder Cup: Colin Montgomerie demands more security to avoid Celtic Manor repeat

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Rowdy Ryder Cup just isn't right! Montgomerie demands better security to avoid repeat of Celtic Manor green invasion

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UPDATED:

10:19 GMT, 10 May 2012

Colin Montgomerie thinks there needs to be more crowd control at the Ryder Cup this year.

The 17th green at Celtic Manor was invaded by fans as Graeme McDowell's win over Hunter Mahan completed victory for Montgomerie's side two years ago.

But the 48-year-old Scot, who has now passed on the captaincy to Jose Maria Olazabal for this September's match in Chicago, believes lessons need to be learnt.

From this: Graeme McDowell beats Hunter Mahan on the 17th green...

From this: Graeme McDowell beats Hunter Mahan on the 17th green…

To this: The players disappear as fans flood on to the green in celebration

To this: The players disappear as fans flood on to the green in celebration

'The policing and marshalling throughout the week were absolutely terrific, but, like it or not, things were within a whisker of going badly wrong at the end,' says Montgomerie in extracts from his autobiography published in the Daily Telegraph today.

'I am talking about the crazed goings-on that occurred on the 17th green. I think we have to learn from this and perhaps adopt more of a football-style approach, whereby stewards circle the green as the end approaches to ensure things do not spill over.

'I am not trying to be a killjoy in saying that. The crowd all week had been incredible and those final moments were wonderful.

Say cheese: Photographers also faced a battle to close to McDowell

Say cheese: Photographers also faced a battle to close to McDowell

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'The raw emotion and happiness that erupted will stay with me for ever but, as bedlam ensued, it became impossible for me to seek out Graeme and shake his hand before going straight from him to Hunter and from Hunter to (American captain) Corey Pavin.

'In the spirit of the game, I think I should have been able to do that and should have been seen to be doing that.

Mobbed: Colin Montgomerie leaving the 17th after McDowell's triumph

Mobbed: Colin Montgomerie leaving the 17th after McDowell's triumph

'As more and more people poured forth, the situation bordered on dangerous. Gaynor (Montgomerie's wife) and her daughter had to grab hold of the belt of a policeman to help them through the crowds.

'If someone had tripped, injuries could have ensued and the day would have finished on a grim note. Yet that apart, the spectators came out of the match with great distinction.'

Montgomerie also speaks of his relief that no Americans were put off by ill-timed shouts.

'I was determined that the boundary that marks fun from the unacceptable would not be overstepped,' he said.

That's more like it: Montgomerie, in the safety of the hotel at Celtic Manor, looks back on the dramatic events of the previous day in the Usk Valley

That's more like it: Montgomerie, in the safety of the hotel at Celtic Manor, looks back on the dramatic events of the previous day in the Usk Valley

'To that end, the rain delays did not help. The supporters were taking shelter in the bars, where inhibitions tend to get left behind after a few hours/pints.

'Private thoughts can turn into public exclamations, often at precisely the wrong moment.

'I felt we came within a hair's breadth of crossing the line.'