Diane Dixon

The Olympic gold medalist, who holds the American record for fastest time in the 4 x 400 metres race, recalls how she talked her way into her first professional competition. “I got in contact with Fred Thompson because I was watching TV when I was 12. And at the time, I saw Meredith Rainey, and she was at the Colgate Women’s Games,” she tells Get Up Show host Chris LaMonica. “So I went down and I asked who was the best track coach. And I saw this guy with Gucci loafers, no socks, an Izod shirt. I walked over to him, I said, ‘Hi, my name’s Diane Dixon.’ And Fred said, ‘I have enough runners.’ And I said, ‘Yea, but you don’t have me!’”