This footage is a wonderful trip '...down memory lane'. To me Kathy was, and remains, the greatest GB sprinter/400 metres athlete. The fluidity and cadence of her running style was awe inspiring....and always made me smile....smooth...easy (looking)....'How does she do that?' We should spend a lot more time looking at the past GB greats.....so many of their best times/distances/heights were achieved, by todays standards, in dire conditions. Today, in the UK rankings Kathy still rates ( from circa 1984) 2nd 200 metres....2nd-400 metres....6th...100metres...What!!!!!? Brilliant stuff. Good interview Steve.
What an incredibly lovely genuine person Kathy Cook is. She may have lost out to drug cheats from Easter Europe and the USA but, in a way, she will always have more than they will ever have.
@@redrum4100 Especially the US women, look up the Orange County report, from 1980 to 2007, all US athletes at top level were roiders, including the so called precious Ashford and Smith.
I loved watching Kathy run when I was a kid. Was such an inspiration to all & she gave her all in every single race. Loved this look back at her achievements. Very humble & a lovely woman.
I have watched this so many times , Kathy was not only cheated beyond belief , but is the most fantastic person , incredible ! Why don't British Athletics award her a lifetime achievement award , to acknowledge , her talent !
Don't know anyone who didn't adore Kathy for the way she used to go about things with humour and dignity, and the passage of time shows that she was even better than we realised. Someone you'd always want on your side.
I remember her from back when she was Kathy Smallwood - she was pretty much the top GB women's athlete for several years and did so well for her country. Great to see how modest she is and accepting of the situation - morally, she's a champion. :-)
She was born 30 years too soon. She would have been winning gold medals now. It's sickening that she had to compete against drug cheats from both Eastern Europe and the USA.
Loved her as a kid and she remains one of my all time favourite sports people.A great career that would've been greater if not for constantly running against cheats.
Remember watching the 1984 Olympics as an 8 year old and she was my favourite athlete. Only just missed a medal in the 200 metres as well-4th I think was her position. Her range of distances was extraordinary compared to how athletes compete today. World class at 100 metres through to 400 metres and no doubt would've won more medals and for sure at least a World or Olympic individual gold were she competing on a level playing field. A true legend of British Track and Field.....:-))
Kathy Cook had a wonderful, natural sprinting style, reminding me somewhat of Jesse Owens' action. This "smooth is fast" style probably aided her in being able to compete with the very best in the 100m up to the 400m - which is quite an unusual range for a sprinter to have. I can only think of USA's Alyson Felix who competes today, as being so competetive range-wise. A notable performance of Cook's is her 1983 WC 200m final in which she showed Flo-Jo a clean pair of heels to win a bronze. Today she is still 2nd, 1st, and 2nd on the British all time records for 100m, 200m 400m - records which have stood for 30 or more years. That is the quality we're talking about.
my 2 favourite women athletes were kathy cook & lillian board; lillian was deprived of more gold medals by cancer - kathy was deprived of any gold medals by drug cheats.
A beautiful, virtuous and clean athlete and person. She was robbed blind! Her time still would’ve won in 2012? Pretty much a novice at 400 as well... she ran 100 & 200! That tells you she was truly world class - she should’ve dominated her generation... she would’ve had the others been clean!
...my favourite athlete when I was growing up...I found out she worked at TSB so wrote to as many of their Birmingham branches as I could...paid off as I got a nice letter & signed photo back...
What a wonderful athlete and woman Kathy was and is. She was definitely robbed of glory and that is tragic. But it's great to see how life is greater than that smaller period of time when those things happened; she's still proving she's a winner.
Kathy was as great an athlete for GB as Coe Ovett and Cram . In a clean sport she would have as successful as all 3. I would go as far as giving Kathy a dame hood
I assume the two dislikes are from Koch and Kratochvilova? Kathy was the best sprinter in the world in the era when cheats prospered instead of her. All the world records pre WADA should be nullified, without prejudice, for athletics to get back to what is once was.
Kathy Cook was so naturally talented she had such a natural style. She is so dignified about being up against doped athletes. Kathy really deserved a Gold Medal at one of the major games. At the time she was almost universally just known as Kathy as in the great commentaries by the likes of Ron Pickering!
British and Global legend, one of the most gifted athletes of all time, and everyone knows why the golds were not there, but as Kathy pointed out.....sponsorship etc.....she was robbed and still shows dignity in reflection. A steely athlete from the golden age of athletics, when athletics mattered....an absolute master of the sprints
The most robbed athlete in modern times, she would have had a lot more reward for her talents not just in terms of medals had it not been for the drugs both of the eastern bloc ladies but also from elsewhere in the world (cough USA, cough Jamaica). I'm really happy that she isn't bitter about it and the school she's worked at gained an absolute track legend.
Kathy Cook - should be given an *honorary medal* - not made from corrupted - and corrupting - *gold* [which Keynes calls - barbarous - sorry a little bit of political economics crept out] - but grown from another 'stuff' - to symbolise the 'stuff' - Kathy Cook is made of - _something more than gold_
IAAF should right these wrongs, it's disgusting how the clean athletes were not just punished by not winning/getting even a medal but had opportunities stolen away from them that modern athletes get so easily, most of them couldn't touch Kathy for her talent.
Terrific sprinter and woman with a very impressive track career tally, just very sad that she and Shirley Strong were robbed by the USA and Eastern block roider gurus of the Golds that they both deserved.
Although Kathy's the superiorly talented moral champion of that period and probably sleeps easier than the Eastern Blocheads (some of whom, fortunately, sleep a little more permanently); honestly, would anyone be mad at her if she doped and said "Look, I wasn't going to waste my talent, so I did it to beat everyone else who was doing it."? The fact is, drug cheats will always prosper in a sport where the governing bodies are willing to turn a blind eye to an extent if it produces faster times, farther throws and bigger jumps. There are designer drugs out there that we the public don't know of and will never know of. However, IAAF and WADA aren't that naive. They know exactly how drug cheats get away with doping and let them be because drug cheats are good for business.
MrRosko03 I met Kathy when she first cane to Reading Ac and seen right away she was a great sprinter so I intrudruced her to Jim Spooner the sprint coach who also trained Bev Goddard .
Over simplistic analysis. Many of the Eastern European athletes were manipulated and forced into those drug programs by the totalitarian regimes that they were forced to live under and many suffered for the rest of their lives with the abuse of their bodies. Of course none gained financially either. Putting the world into a simple goodies v baddies morale prysim is for children. Athletics was a small part of a bigger picture. I'm sure Kathy wouldn't trade their podiums for her life now.
+gazza141983 exactly - and why do you think that was? And the only reason the BoC allowed her back in was because she stamped her feet up and down and threatened to run for another country if they didn't lift their ban on her. To imagine she's clean is to be extremely naive
This footage is a wonderful trip '...down memory lane'. To me Kathy was, and remains, the greatest GB sprinter/400 metres athlete. The fluidity and cadence of her running style was awe inspiring....and always made me smile....smooth...easy (looking)....'How does she do that?' We should spend a lot more time looking at the past GB greats.....so many of their best times/distances/heights were achieved, by todays standards, in dire conditions. Today, in the UK rankings Kathy still rates ( from circa 1984) 2nd 200 metres....2nd-400 metres....6th...100metres...What!!!!!? Brilliant stuff. Good interview Steve.
Kathy if you ever read any of these comments know we all are very proud of you...thanks,Jim
Nice comment mothertree. What we all think
What an incredibly lovely genuine person Kathy Cook is. She may have lost out to drug cheats from Easter Europe and the USA but, in a way, she will always have more than they will ever have.
Yep she has the "stuff" champions are made of...great natural talent!
Cook is a superb middle distance runner its just that she's lined up with greatness during her time The dgr may dope but not the US Women
@@josevalentinebico2252 "but not the US Women" too funny lol
Correct them dirty slags denied her maybe 3 Olympic gold medals
@@redrum4100 Especially the US women, look up the Orange County report, from 1980 to 2007, all US athletes at top level were roiders, including the so called precious Ashford and Smith.
I loved watching Kathy run when I was a kid. Was such an inspiration to all & she gave her all in every single race. Loved this look back at her achievements. Very humble & a lovely woman.
I have watched this so many times , Kathy was not only cheated beyond belief , but is the most fantastic person , incredible ! Why don't British Athletics award her a lifetime achievement award , to acknowledge , her talent !
Don't know anyone who didn't adore Kathy for the way she used to go about things with humour and dignity, and the passage of time shows that she was even better than we realised. Someone you'd always want on your side.
Kathy Smallwood/Cook was a fantastic athlete & obviously a beautiful person too.. My favourite female British athlete of all time, all day long!
I remember her from back when she was Kathy Smallwood - she was pretty much the top GB women's athlete for several years and did so well for her country. Great to see how modest she is and accepting of the situation - morally, she's a champion. :-)
She was born 30 years too soon. She would have been winning gold medals now. It's sickening that she had to compete against drug cheats from both Eastern Europe and the USA.
Loved her as a kid and she remains one of my all time favourite sports people.A great career that would've been greater if not for constantly running against cheats.
Remember watching the 1984 Olympics as an 8 year old and she was my favourite athlete. Only just missed a medal in the 200 metres as well-4th I think was her position. Her range of distances was extraordinary compared to how athletes compete today. World class at 100 metres through to 400 metres and no doubt would've won more medals and for sure at least a World or Olympic individual gold were she competing on a level playing field. A true legend of British Track and Field.....:-))
thanks for posting this recording. I never saw it first time around.. I found it moving; one of my favourite athletes..
Top athlete, a credit to our nation...... deserves all the praise.....
Kathy Cook had a wonderful, natural sprinting style, reminding me somewhat of Jesse Owens' action. This "smooth is fast" style probably aided her in being able to compete with the very best in the 100m up to the 400m - which is quite an unusual range for a sprinter to have. I can only think of USA's Alyson Felix who competes today, as being so competetive range-wise. A notable performance of Cook's is her 1983 WC 200m final in which she showed Flo-Jo a clean pair of heels to win a bronze.
Today she is still 2nd, 1st, and 2nd on the British all time records for 100m, 200m 400m - records which have stood for 30 or more years. That is the quality we're talking about.
my 2 favourite women athletes were kathy cook & lillian board; lillian was deprived of more
gold medals by cancer - kathy was deprived of any gold medals by drug cheats.
I wish Kathy had one at least gold medal individually - she had the talent
She did win....
Just seen this for the first time. Kathy was one of the athletes I really admired when I was a young runner.
you could not have chosen a better person,Jamie
Kathy's true greatness was only fully acknowledged years after her retirement. What a talent.
A beautiful, virtuous and clean athlete and person. She was robbed blind! Her time still would’ve won in 2012? Pretty much a novice at 400 as well... she ran 100 & 200! That tells you she was truly world class - she should’ve dominated her generation... she would’ve had the others been clean!
What an extraordinary woman.
...my favourite athlete when I was growing up...I found out she worked at TSB so wrote to as many of their Birmingham branches as I could...paid off as I got a nice letter & signed photo back...
Thank you for sharing this lovely clip. Deep respect for Cathy Cook. Much love all the way from India...Roby
What a wonderful athlete and woman Kathy was and is. She was definitely robbed of glory and that is tragic. But it's great to see how life is greater than that smaller period of time when those things happened; she's still proving she's a winner.
Kathy was as great an athlete for GB as Coe Ovett and Cram . In a clean sport she would have as successful as all 3. I would go as far as giving Kathy a dame hood
I assume the two dislikes are from Koch and Kratochvilova? Kathy was the best sprinter in the world in the era when cheats prospered instead of her. All the world records pre WADA should be nullified, without prejudice, for athletics to get back to what is once was.
One of my lifetime heroes. What a star.
YEs Cathy`s star shines brightly for not only the sport but humanity as a whole!
Kathy Cook was so naturally talented she had such a natural style. She is so dignified about being up against doped athletes. Kathy really deserved a Gold Medal at one of the major games. At the time she was almost universally just known as Kathy as in the great commentaries by the likes of Ron Pickering!
British and Global legend, one of the most gifted athletes of all time, and everyone knows why the golds were not there, but as Kathy pointed out.....sponsorship etc.....she was robbed and still shows dignity in reflection. A steely athlete from the golden age of athletics, when athletics mattered....an absolute master of the sprints
What a beautiful lady makes me cry this video how humble she is when she knows she was fuckin robbed of gold medals. What a girl kathy is
Great Athlete Great Person !
Kathy Cook champion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
should of won a lot more golds if she wasn't up against them cheating bastards
It must be good for her to say that she knocked off Florence Griffith for 3rd in the 1983 200m at Helsinki..She was clean Kathy Cook
British sprinting phenom!
The most robbed athlete in modern times, she would have had a lot more reward for her talents not just in terms of medals had it not been for the drugs both of the eastern bloc ladies but also from elsewhere in the world (cough USA, cough Jamaica).
I'm really happy that she isn't bitter about it and the school she's worked at gained an absolute track legend.
Kathy Cook - should be given an *honorary medal* - not made from corrupted - and corrupting - *gold* [which Keynes calls - barbarous - sorry a little bit of political economics crept out] - but grown from another 'stuff' - to symbolise the 'stuff' - Kathy Cook is made of - _something more than gold_
Lovely comment. Well done
One of the most cheated athletes -felt incredibly sorry for her
I can't believe she had to do a real job when she stopped running. Even then with her talent and good looks she shoulda been minted for doing adverts.
my brother at school used to rave about kathy smallwood ............ pity those cheats got away with it but at least shes not bitter.
Even when Merry won bronze at Sydney, she was not as fast as Kathy.
Delighted when Chrissy O won that final in Moscow and broke the record. Records are supposed to be broken 🇬🇧
But not by her, v poor ambassador for the sport, dont think anybody will look back on her career with any affection.
84, the gold should have been hers.
She was the most brilliantly gifted athlete. Such a terrible shame that her career was blighted by these evil cheats
She is incredible to run that fast and not have any real muscle mass.
IAAF should right these wrongs, it's disgusting how the clean athletes were not just punished by not winning/getting even a medal but had opportunities stolen away from them that modern athletes get so easily, most of them couldn't touch Kathy for her talent.
She was so unlucky to have to run against so many Russian and Eastern European cheats. Wockel should have her medals taken away.
Terrific sprinter and woman with a very impressive track career tally, just very sad that she and Shirley Strong were robbed by the USA and Eastern block roider gurus of the Golds that they both deserved.
Although Kathy's the superiorly talented moral champion of that period and probably sleeps easier than the Eastern Blocheads (some of whom, fortunately, sleep a little more permanently); honestly, would anyone be mad at her if she doped and said "Look, I wasn't going to waste my talent, so I did it to beat everyone else who was doing it."?
The fact is, drug cheats will always prosper in a sport where the governing bodies are willing to turn a blind eye to an extent if it produces faster times, farther throws and bigger jumps. There are designer drugs out there that we the public don't know of and will never know of. However, IAAF and WADA aren't that naive. They know exactly how drug cheats get away with doping and let them be because drug cheats are good for business.
ThunderJuice
MrRosko03 I met Kathy when she first cane to Reading Ac and seen right away she was a great sprinter so I intrudruced her to Jim Spooner the sprint coach who also trained Bev Goddard .
Over simplistic analysis. Many of the Eastern European athletes were manipulated and forced into those drug programs by the totalitarian regimes that they were forced to live under and many suffered for the rest of their lives with the abuse of their bodies. Of course none gained financially either.
Putting the world into a simple goodies v baddies morale prysim is for children. Athletics was a small part of a bigger picture. I'm sure Kathy wouldn't trade their podiums for her life now.
Drugs dominate the sport
but in the commonwealth games.. did she win any gold.. no eastern bloc countries are there.
No Merlene Ottey got in the way, a silver in 200m
Merlene Ottey was there.
Acting like british athletes were clean no they were not
her 400m record went to ... Christine Ohuruogu? Poor lass is still losing out to drugs cheats
Get your facts right mate , CO has never failed a drug test , she failed to attend 3 mandatory drug tests
+gazza141983 exactly - and why do you think that was? And the only reason the BoC allowed her back in was because she stamped her feet up and down and threatened to run for another country if they didn't lift their ban on her. To imagine she's clean is to be extremely naive
alan simon Chrissy O LEGEND 🇬🇧🇬🇧
I don't think it's reasonable to call Christine a drugs cheat.
Ohurougu too failed a dope test.