Dale Garland’s family, Graham, left, mum Pauline and brother Lee wait to see if he will be competing in today’s 4 x 400 metres relay race at the Beijing Olympics. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0625780)

DETERMINATION is the key to the success of Dale Garland’s career.
That is the view of both his parents and also older brother Lee, the day before Dale hopes to run in the 4 x 400 metres relay in the Olympic Games.
It now looks like Dale won’t be selected to run in Beijing, but his father Graham thinks this will make him even more keyed up to compete in the future.
‘He will have a shot at London 2012 and he hopes he can qualify.
‘Age won’t be a problem, because if you look at people like Kelly Holmes, she won two golds in Athens when she was 34.’
Dale’s quality in athletics shone through at an early age, although back then it wasn’t as a short-distance runner where he was best, as mother Pauline recalls.
‘He always excelled at long distances. He came sixth in a national under-13’s cross-country race at one stage.’
Following his brother into athletics may have always seemed like the obvious choice to many, but Dale only chose the sport after he was unsuccessful in football trials with Fulham and Birmingham.
From that moment on, he has made huge strides in a variety of events, before switching his attentions from the decathlon to the one-lap event.
And Lee thinks that the work Dale has put in over this distance has earned him a deserved spot in the Olympics.
‘You don’t get to an Olympics by accident.
‘You have to be at the top of your game to get there.’