1984 Olympics: Daley Thompson

The unthinkable was about to happen. Britain's golden boy walked to the concrete discus circle knowing that he was throwing for his life, his reputation, his dreams. It was not just the Los Angeles smog that was suffocating the athletes in the Memorial Coliseum. Daley Thompson was a man under pressure.

It all seemed like business as usual after six events in the 1984 Olympic Decathlon. Thompson had managed to build a lead over his great rival Jurgen Hingsen, stamping his authority on the competition from the start. The West German may have arrived in Los Angeles as the world record holder, but when it came to competition, there was no one like Daley.

1989 Open Championship: Mark Calcavecchia

Sunday July 23, 1989: Wayne Grady, Greg Norman and Mark Calcavecchia stand on the first tee at Royal Troon, the centre of the golfing world. For four days they have scrapped and battled, thrilled and entertained, just to get to this point. Four days, 72 holes. But now for four more.

Each man has a tale to tell. One was just a phone call away from missing out on the biggest day of his sporting life. Another would tear up the course on the Sunday, almost defying his final day odds of 25/1 to left the Claret Jug. The third would lead for over two days before stumbling at two par threes, setting up a piece of Open history.

England and the last eight

Supporting the England football team really should come with a government health warning. Tournaments come and go, hopes and expectations grow as the journey begins, until we arrive at the inevitable destination of disappointment twinned with despair. You think we may have learned by now. 

The first tournament I followed should have prepared me for this. England did not even make it to Euro 84, as a superb Danish team - laughingly dismissed by the English press - qualified and piled pressure on Bobby Robson. Things can only get better?

At least Robson took us to the quarter finals at Mexico 86, yet this would give me a first taste of finals frustration. Since then it has been a mixed bag when England have reached the last eight of major tournaments. There have been a few doses of luck - both good and bad - tears, penalties, a broken bone, winking, strangely comfortable wins, and a penalty in 2022 that still has not landed.