Despite his initial success, Derek was plagued with injuries throughout his career. Most notably, he tore his hamstring at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, as he raced in the 400metre semi-finals. Held up by his father, Derek limped a full lap of the track to cross the finish line, the crowd erupting in a standing ovation.
Though he was disqualified, the moment firmly positioned Derek as an inspirational figure. The video clip was the focus of the International Olympic Committee's "Celebrate Humanity" campaign, has featured in advertisements as a symbol of perseverance, and featured in a Nike commercial in 2008, entitled Courage.
Born to West Indian immigrants in Buckinghamshire, Derek’s childhood school, Roade School, named its sports hall after him. In 1985, he broke his first British record when he ran the 400metres in 44.82 seconds. Though this record was later broken again by Roger Black, Derek reclaimed it in 1987.
Featuring as a member of the GB team in 1986, Derek won a gold medal in the 4x400 relay Champions. In the following year, he won a silver medal in the same sport, at the World Championships. By 1991, Derek had positioned himself in the realm of respected athletes. At the World Championships, his team shocked spectators when they beat the dominant American team to secure gold in the relay.
Since his retirement, Derek has turned his attention to motivating others with his story and life lessons. Despite his injuries, he wasn’t done with the world of sport just yet, so went on to play professional basketball with the Birmingham Bullets and raced motorbikes with the Hottrax Motorsport Racing Club, a race that consisted of relay and endurance. Sparking a love of bikes, Derek now owns a superbike team.
Since 2015, Derek is a psychometric assessor with Thomas International. As their Group Performance Director, he offers corporate workshops to improve employees wellbeing, productivity and motivation to succeed. As a motivational speaker, he regularly gives presentations on the importance of believing in yourself despite adversity, reflecting upon his experiences to inspire others.
