Rider's legends: David Hemery

David Hemery flanked by Gerhard Hennige (left) and John Sherwood

BBC Olympics presenter Steve Rider highlights some of the great Olympians from the pages of history.

In the 400m hurdles final at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, David Hemery did not so much beat but obliterate the field.

It was an inspired performance in which the British runner set a world record time of 48.12 which 32 years on would probably still be enough to earn a place in an Olympic final.

Yet despite a huge winning margin of around seven metres, Hemery admitted he was probably the last person in the stadium to realise he had won.

"Even having crossed the line I looked very fast to my right which was where there was one chap I hadn't raced and wasn't sure if I would be able to stay ahead of him.

Clear

"I saw I was well clear, put my hands to my knees and then suddenly thought `oh goodness, I never looked to my left, I wonder if I won`.

Taking the field apart in Mexico

"The fact I was seven metres ahead, I had no idea."

Then came the news that he had destroyed the old world record.

"I heard them say `48.1` in Spanish but I was looking for confirmation because there had been a strong head wind in the back straight and it was quite a cold evening," he said.

"So I thought: `have I misheard, was it 49.1?' It was my intent to run under the world record time but to take 0.9secs off was a huge bonus."

Even 32 years on, Hemery, who is now president of UK Athletics, remembers the race vividly.

He was 24 years old at the time and had spent much of his life in the US.

Altitude

But little prepared him for the high altitude conditions of Mexico City.

David Hemery: Now UK Athletics president

Although the conditions effected the endurance athletes far more severely he remembers how even the sprinters built up an `oxygen debt`.

"As my event lasted less than a minute I was not affected during the race but the recovery was more difficult.

"After I had won there was nothing left in the legs to do a lap of honour. I had my hands on my knees and was panting for 20 minutes afterwards."

Pace

But the race itself went perfectly to plan for Hemery who was trailed in by Gerhard Hennige of Germany and fellow Brit John Sherwood.

"It all felt just about spot on. I was in lane six and was aware of John in lane eight," said Hemery.

"I passed him at 240 metres so I had some kind of pace judgement. I felt a bit sorry for John but I was delighted he came through for bronze and was also on the podium.

"My intent was to balance the amount of effort I put in throughout the race. You can't run the 400m hurdles flat out."

In fact Hemery ran out his opponents out with a first 200m of 22.3 and left the field further and further behind at every hurdle.

Hemery was back four later in Munich but that time had to settle for bronze.