Decathletes do it 10 times better

An athletics blip - nay a meta-blip - if you will, today. I found these photos from the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, taken by my own hand and of which I'm very proud. The pic of Trey Hardee bouncing after his victory is the best moment I've ever managed to capture - entirely by accident - on film, and the pic of Roman Sebrle pole vaulting is my best photo ever. Athletics buffs will spot the deliberate error in the title of the blip...

The ten days I spent in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin were easily the best of my life. I spent upwards of 60 hours in the seat from which the photos were taken, through pelting rain, blistering sun, blinding sunsets and chilly mornings. I sat through every single run, jump and throw and my seat was at the end of the 100m straight (as you can see in the pics) where Usain Bolt came hurtling towards me, clocking 9.58 in the process, still the world record. And nothing has beaten the emotion of tramping along from the U-bahn to suddenly be faced with the giant Olympic Rings from the 1936 Games. I also remember fondly the ringing of the bell by the man who sold warm pretzels in the stadium...

And this is why I get so grumpy when I can't get tickets for major games.