There’s one small problem with interviewing Daley Thompson about the world athletics championships in 1983: he can’t remember much about them. True, they were 34 years ago, but these were the inaugural “worlds” and he did win decathlon gold to become Britain’s first athletics world champion.
Let’s stick with what he can remember about Helsinki: “It was good, they were the first world championships and the sport needed it. I think I was rooming with Steve Cram. I had a groin injury and wasn’t 100% but I thought ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ Helsinki was a bit cold but the crowd was good, they liked their athletics.”
Thompson edged ahead of his perennial rival, Jurgen Hingsen, in the opening event, the 100m, and never
