b'Jason John interview continued.You competed in a number of major championships throughout yourathletics career. What were your personal highlights?I suffered a few injuries resulting in operations throughout my career, which made every comeback race a personal highlight. It goes without saying that representing my country at an Olympic Games, and forever being an Olympian, is an honour that is second to none.Another highlight was receiving an invitation to the BBCs annual Sports Personality of the Year celebration. The broadcast happened to be on my birthday, and before I received the invitation I thought it would be just another birthday, only to be truly surprised and honoured to join the audience at Television Centre, having previously been able only to watch the programme on TV as an enthused spectator.The final highlight that springs to mind is finishing fourth at the World Junior Championships, despite suffering heatstroke prior to the semi-final, and still not being fully recovered going into the final.You competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. What do you remember especially about that competition? Athletics had its share of controversies inAre you in touch with any of your school The obvious answer here would be to speakthe period when you were competing, whenfriends from your HGS days, and do you about my Olympic debut actually on theit went from being an amateur sport to onereturn to Birmingham very often?track, but as relays are the last two dayswhere athletes could be paid. This years of the championship, I had ten days priorOlympic winners will receive monetarySocial media has allowed me to reconnect to my event to soak up the whole Olympicrewards for winning medals for the firstwith a lot of ex-pupils, but unfortunately experience. Therefore, I will say time. Do you think that is right? very few from my form group. I am a proud 1. The Olympic Villagean athletesBrummie, and Birmingham will always be paradise, where everything is in placeThe Olympic Games were initially anmy home town. However, despite only living e.g. 24-hour canteen with cuisines fromopportunity for amateur athletes to haveabout 35 minutes east of the city, I find all around the world, launderette, barber,their chance to shine. However, millionairemyself visiting Birmingham less frequently as games/ recreation areas, phone cards to callbasketballers, footballers, tennis playersthe years go by.home, a cinema, bowling alleys, a post office,and golf players will be participating in Paris and much, much more to ensure the village2024, and could therefore also profit from anDo you have any guidance or advice for is a home away from home. Olympics. Team GB athletes are fortunate toour current Handsworth Grammarhave their expenses paid by lottery fundingSchool pupils? 2. The Dream Team (USA Basketball) expenses! If it is their sole career, as it is forYour schooldays are arguably the best meeting heroes including Michael Jordan,many, then I believe they should be able todays of your lifeenjoy! And always try to Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing and Charlesmake a living from it. One final thought: if theimprove, aiming to be better tomorrow than Barkley, all just wandering around the villagemoney raised by an Olympic Games doesyou are today. Finally, as The Bridge this year before eventually moving out to the Nikenot go to the athletes, then where does ithas an Olympic themelive your life by the chartered hotel. go? fundamental Olympic values of Respect, 3. Getting to spectate various other sportsYou became a teacher after your athleticsExcellence and Friendship.and watching Linford Christie and Sallycareer ended. Why did you go into that Gunnells gold medal performances, andparticular profession?Derek Redmonds well-documented effort toThanks Jason John cross the finishing line. Athletics is a short-lived career, so I knew I would have to get a proper job one day,for telling The Bridge 4. Finally race dayI was so nervous butbut never in my wildest dreams did I think also so excited. I had no idea what to expectI would become a teacher. However, asmagazine about your once I was on centre stage, but the rushtime developed, I knew I wanted to workathletics career and your of adrenaline you receive as you enter thein sport, give something back, and alsomemories of being astadium and soak up the atmosphere, andhave job security, plus the ability to travel then how you feel after you have successfullyand work, which teaching offers. I beganpupil at HGS. completed your race the experience is trulyteaching towards the latter part of my track beyond words. career and have never looked back.18'