Neil Adams still recalls the shock of what happened a few seconds after winning the silver medal at the 1980 Olympics in the judo event at Moscow – he looked up off the mat and saw a microphone with a camera and myself!

Working for ITV, I had rushed onto the mat for a live interview.

Neil, the greatest British judoka competitor, recalled this week: “I thought what the xxxx! What is Gary doing here? Better not swear...”

Adams, Rugby-born and still based, is currently in Paris where he has been commentating for the BBC on both judo and wrestling. He is very accomplished and is in demand for various broadcasting outlets around the world, working for the IJF (International Judo Federation).

Now 65, Neil won two Olympic silver medals and many others. He knows how the Wolverhampton 400 metres silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith will be feeling after leading all the way in the Paris final until the very end when he was beaten just before the finishing line by USA runner Quincy Hall.

Adams lost a split decision to the Italian Ezio Gamba in that Moscow final and then four years later, at the Los Angeles Olympics, he won silver again, losing in that final to the German Frank Wieneke. The first........

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