And at this time, I would like to invite David Hunter, Akron Roundtable Emeritus Director, who will be introducing our moderator and speakers for today.

Special thanks to David and Margaret Hunter for being today's program sponsor.

Let's give them a round of applause.

We greatly appreciate your support.

And we'll have you now, thank you.

- Thanks to Curtis and to our audience.

Good afternoon, and welcome to the Akron Roundtable.

Today, we are honored to have with us three special guests.

First, an Olympic champion, multiple time gold medalist, Akron native and Hoban alum, Butch Reynolds.

Next, a veteran educator and social entrepreneur in Akron, Ohio's public and chartered schools and universities, Ismail Al-Amin.

And WAKR Morning Host, Ray Horner, who will be serving as moderator today.

These three will explore one of the most controversial legal battles in track and field history.

The unfairness imposed upon Butch Reynolds, one of the greatest 400 meter athletes of all time.

The trio will also address Reynolds quest for redemption as captured in “False Positive,” ESPN’s 30 for 30, a full length film about Al-Amin's long friend, Olympic champion and world record holder Butch Reynolds.

Ismail Al-Amin has laid out Reynolds story from his earliest track glory, to his career derailment and beyond.

Butch Reynolds has seen it all and done it all.

At age 12, he was able to run 400m in 48.1 seconds.

He later attended the Ohio State University, where he won the 1987 NCAA 400-meter title.

Between 1987 and 1995, Butch captured numerous World Championship medals, including gold in the 1993 World Indoor Championships.

Butch is also a two time Olympic medalist, earning silver in the 400 and gold in the 4x400 meter relay in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

But perhaps Butch’s most stunning track performance was in the 1993 World Championship 4x400 meter relay.

In that foursome of Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds and Michael Johnson, they crossed the finish line in a world record time of two minutes, 54.29 seconds, a mark that has remained untouched for 30 years.

For over 30 years.

At this time, I would like to ask Butch, Ismail, and Ray to step up to the stage.

You'll come up, please.

While we're getting ready, we have a short video for all of you to enjoy.

A 400-meter final, often known as the race of the 20th century.

And we have an outstanding broadcaster calling one of the greatest 400-meter finals of all time.

Watch for Butch, who is in lane three and is wearing all white so we can please run this now.

- 30,000 hold their breath and off goes Butch Reynolds.

But Egbunike’s gone off faster.

Egbunike in lane five.

Has screamed down the back straight and (unknown) in the red shorts is closing and Reynolds has got a battle on his hands because Egbunike the silver medalist in the World Championships, the Commonwealth record holder, the African record holder, has gone screaming around the bend.

Danny Everett trying to close around the outside.

And now comes Butch Reynolds being pushed by Steve Lewis in blue.

Reynolds is up to his shoulder.

Reynolds is steam past him and Butch Reynolds is coming away.

All six foot three of him.

He brings Steve Lewis within the 19 year old and Danny Everett will be third.

And look at that.

He's done it.

The world record is his at sea level and he's mad at it.

He's taking it apart.

And justice has been done at last, the fastest man in the world at altitude, all sea level, 43.30.

And that obliterates Lee Evans from the record books.

- And now I'm going to ask Butch to tell us a little bit about that race while I go to sit down.

- That was a dream come true, you guys, seriously, you talk about hard work, dedication and commitment.

And that was all come together, dedication, hard work and commitment.

And a coach made me the sign.

He said, Butch, you can pick a world record.

When I left Akron, Ohio, I didn't know what a world record was all about.

I didn't— I wasn't into track and field.

I was into football and basketball.

When I got there, coach made me a sign, he said, Butch Reynolds, 43.86 seconds, world record.

He said, you put this on your bedroom wall and you look at it every day.

And for four years I looked at that sign.

And August 17th, 1988, 8:42 in the evening, that dream came true.

So I used that message, and I used type of experience to whatever I'm doing in life.

If I believe it, I got to change it and I have to have a goal for it.

And once I set that goal, I'm like, it’s like a spirit, a positive spirit.

It's going to keep me focused to achieve that type of goal.

- Butch Reynolds, we're going to talk a little obviously about “False Positive” in a second.

How many in this room have seen the “False Positive” documentary?

Well, I know I have.

And when I watched the documentary by Ismaill Al-Amin, and of course, Butch Reynolds and company, I got angry as I watched this thing go on that this false positive happened.

But, and talking to Butch on my show and in talking to Butch in person, anger was put aside.

He didn't get angry.

He used it for positive.

And I think that goes in line with the title on how to build things and be patient with it and maybe talk a little bit about that, Butch.

Because— And then we'll get into the background and everything leading up to it.

But you didn't take that as an angry situation.

You built on something.

- Of course, I'm— I always tell the truth.

And the truth is that whenever you get a blow like that, you're going to get a reaction.

And the reaction was, I wasn't happy.

It was a bad time in my life.

And I don't forget, because you have to handle it a certain way.

When you get hit that way, there's two things you can look at it.

You can look at it as negative and positive.

And when I got hit that way, I lasted like, a month, 30 days with a negative attitude.

And I realized what that negative attitude I wasn't Olympian, I wasn't what I achieved.

I wasn't a world record holder with that attitude.

I was hurting myself in a negative mindset instead of using it as a positive of what I was used to, breaking world records, winning gold medals.

So when I found the difference, it helped me get back on track because, you know, when you have, when you hear from the world that you did something you didn't do and the whole world think you did it, it's a lonely space.

It's a very lonely space at that time.

And I look at the documentary, it's been five years now.

And it was... I'm thinking when me and Ismail Al-Amin did it, that the Nike's, the whole world is going to look at it.

It was going to change, my direction is going to change what happened to me.

You know, when a documentary is aired.

And what it did, it changed Butch Reynolds again.

It didn't change too much of the world as it changed me.

When I say it changed me, it kind of woke that sleeping giant up of doing what my grandfather told me to do 35 years ago was to clear his name.

It wasn't about $27 million.

It wasn't about the Supreme Court.

It was about clearing his name, that Reynolds name.

And that took it from Butch.

So the world record you saw was a lot of me and God, and now was all God leading my way now, I know it for a fact.

There's only way I got from that false accusation in 1990 to this day is God lead my way.

He put good, positive people in my mix that believe that enough in me, not a lot, but he put enough in there.

Enough when I came back to Akron, Ohio (unintelligible) right here.

He gave me an opportunity where a lot of people would not give me an opportunity because of the false accusation.

And we got another man, (unknown), here.

He's given me an opportunity.

So it's telling me, Butch, you better come back to Akron faster, you know?

- From fastest man in the world in 1988 and then all of a sudden, two years later, the accusations come out pertaining to negative test, I should say positive test pertaining to steroids and drugs and such.

We're going to get into the story now and the friendship with Ismail Al-Amin.

He is the movie producer.

He’s the director.

And their friendship got this whole ball rolling on this.

So, Ismail, let's talk about the beginning conversation, you and Butch and then going forward with the project.

- Yeah.

Well, you know, growing up here in Akron, Ohio, you know, and as a former athlete, you know, Butch was like the guy for us.

You know, you know, other people, you know.

But Butch was like that person that we saw rising to those heights, you know, athletically.

So I really got a chance to get to know Butch.

I had just graduated from, you know, from the University of Akron getting my master's and, and someone approached me.

It was like, hey, man, Butch would like to meet you.

You know, he's doing some mentoring, some mentoring work with, young African-American boys on the East side of Akron.

And he would like to meet you, see if you want to get involved with this organization.

So that was really like my— I had met him before, but that was my first time really getting a chance to meet him and talk to him and get to know him.

So, you know, but I'm gonna be honest with you, you know, I really didn't know if Butch was a clean athlete or not, you know, because we're talking, what, we're talking like, 2000.

I mean, so it was like, you know, a lot of the information wasn't available, you know, on the internet or things like that.

So it was an opportunity for me to work with Butch, do some important work in the community, you know, but at the same time the relationship with him, ask him questions, you know.

You know, so over time, you know, over time, our relationship grew.

And... I just knew he had a very compelling story, you know, regardless if I, regardless if he was an innocent athlete or not, he had a hell of a story, you know what I'm saying?

So I was like, man, so I was just trying to position myself not so much knowing that I wanted to tell the story, but so much just really just being inquisitive on my own, you know what I’m saying, because someone I looked up to as a young athlete and wanted to, you know, wanted to know better.

But then, having conversations with him and doing my research on the side, you know, I just felt like he was railroaded, you know?

So, I didn't— At first, I was trying to find someone to tell the story.

You know, I was like, I need to reach it to get this story.

But then after a while, I was like, I could tell the story myself, you know?

So, you know, I felt like I had the resources in place.

You know, one of my former college roommate, his name is Bradford Young, and Bradford is probably the best cinematographer in Hollywood.

You know, he's the first African-American cinematographer ever nominated for Academy Award.

We lived together in Washington, D.C.

for six years.

So I reached out to Bradford and I was like, Brad.

I was like, man, I got a story.

And he was like, yeah, you know, he loved it.

And he put me in contact with some people who put me in contact with some people who put me in contact with some people.

And we knocked on ESPN’s door a couple of times, you know.

But the second time we knocked on the door, we had a chance to really pitch it officially and properly.

And they knew Butch’s story because someone had tried to pitch it to him before, but I don't think that they had the infrastructure in place that made ESPN comfortable with greenlight.

And they were very comfortable with that.

And with the infrastructure I had in place and the rest is history.

- Yeah.

For the documentary, for those of you who have not seen it, it really starts with competition in the athletic arena.

Then it takes you into achievement, disappointment, and then it goes into the political arena.

And then, of course, we talk about family with the Reynolds family and such, and Ismail, I love the way you chronicled through the film of developing that.

It did not come across as an athlete who's just saying, I didn't do it.

It came across with evidence that was well put together.

- Yeah.

I mean, you know, Butch’s story is my story.

To a certain extent, it's like, you know, my people are from Alabama.

You know, they were part of black migration.

They migrated to Akron, Ohio, to work in the rubber factories.

Both my grandfathers retired from the rubber factories here in Akron.

So, you know, so just telling his story, you know, it was like I wanted to ground him first, you know, because, you know, “False Positive” is like a love letter to my city.

It's a love letter to Akron for me.

You know, it's a place that nurtured me, you know, so many different ways.

So it was an opportunity to really, you know, just ground Butch, you know, and community, you know, but at the same time.

Yes.

You know, showed up behind the research, behind the scenes research that I did, you know, talking to attorneys.

You know, I spent a lot of time talking to attorneys.

You know, sharing, getting information, examining legal documents.

You know, it was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, almost.

But once I was comfortable, I was like, man, you know, I knew I knew it was going to validate him.

Because once you look at the evidence, you just saw, it was like, man, how could anyone do this to a person, you know?

But at the same time, you know, when you're dealing with geopolitics, like geopolitics and money and you know, it's a perfect example of putting profit over people.

And this is actually what happened with Butch.

- Butch, let's talk about the family side of this thing so important to you as you went on in the quest to, to clear your name.

- You know, it’s funny because it was the... It was 25 years.

What are you going to do now?

I didn't want to play the victim role.

I ain't going to play the woe it was me, you know?

So I'm praying to God.

Said God, what do you want me to do here?

I have to do something, you know.

And he brought this beautiful lady to me.

She had two kids.

And I said, well, God, this is what you want me to do.

You want me to raise two kids like this?

You know, I want my own of course, you know?

But you know, my first one, I lost at birth.

You know, he lived for five hours, and it was challenging.

And I really didn't want any kids at that time because it was just that heartfelt.

And then I put it to God, and he bought me these two.

And I raised for the last 25 years, my daughter now, she's an attorney.

She works for Jones Day.

And my son, he has his own business, a moving company.

So I'm very impressed and happy that I spent my time doing that, because when I look at the people who motivated me like a Nelson Mandela, he spent 27 years in jail and 15 years was hard labor.

And then, like Hurricane Carter, he spent 19 years in jail for something that they did not do.

And so even though I was free, I had to make sure that my head stayed free, had to make sure that my mindset was free.

Because when you’re thinking like, they took everything from me, you play that victim role, that, woe it was me.

And that's how you get in trouble.

So that's my message to a lot of people out there, is that when you're going through adversity, you know, think twice because that first thought might not be the best move you make.

So I had to catch myself because people wouldn't say, you know, sorry, Butch.

He was falsely accused.

You lost everything.

You lost your house, your mom's house.

You lost everything.

They wouldn't say that.

What they would say is that, oh, he was on drugs, or he robbed this place, or he did something he shouldn’t been doing.

That would have been my story.

It was enough having the false accusation, that's my story.

How can I change that?

Well, ever since that day, I've been giving back.

I've not been trying to get $27 million.

I've been not trying to do this, do that.

I've been giving back work through my foundation, work through my training, putting people in school, putting people in college, giving them hope, giving them a sense of pride, giving them sense of accomplishment.

That's what I try to do.

Just give everything I can give back, give back and wherever— And then God opens up my doors.

He allows me to make a living this way, you know, because before, yes, any athlete, we're going to make $1 million.

We make $1 billion.

That was an athlete mindset.

You know, and then all of a sudden, now I'm not spending athletes money.

I'm spending hard work money.

Don't get me wrong, being an athlete is hard work.

People used to say, I want to be more than an athlete, okay.

One way you can be more than an athlete you take it from you.

So when they took it from me, I was forced to be more than an athlete.

But the bottom line is this, like a doctor.

A doctor don't say, I want to be more than a doctor.

An attorney doesn’t say I want to be more than an attorney.

Why do athletes always say they want to be more than an athlete.

That's who I am.

That's what represented— That's to change people's lives, me being an athlete.

So I could not run from that.

Well, don’t get me wrong, I wanted to.

I wanted to change my name from Butch to whatever.

You know?

I didn't care.

I just didn't want to be that person who Butch Reynolds was.

But I had no choice but to accept that peace and accept who he was.

Non athlete or an athlete, you know, that's who I am.

I am an athlete.

Everybody here represent me as Olympian no matter what I do.

I've been giving back to kids for the past 30 years.

Okay?

That's not going to make the TV or the radio or the news as much as the negativity would.

You know, killing somebody right there, it's going to make news.

Okay?

That shouldn’t make news at all, right?

Helping people, giving back, trying to change this whole community to be a positive community, to be a statement in the world that we live in.

That's the news.

That's the story.

That's what I’m a part of, going through this.

- There was a whirlwind of scenarios involved in this story as well.

And unfortunately for our guy, Butch Reynolds, he got caught in the middle of a lot of this.

A lot of it was political drama.

And the other part was the kickback from some of the athletes.

So not only are you fighting this stuff that you know you didn't do, you're caught in the middle of a political rhetoric going back and forth, and then you have other athletes that are there as well.

How much did that weigh on you?

And then when you're putting the project together, how was it to relive this that has been dormant for 30 plus years?

- That's why you're on the stage now.

He asks great questions.

Awesome questions.

The first one is it was hard watching my peers, my athletes, my friends stand against me this way.

It was hard watching all of track and field from the IOC down to the USA Track and Field go against me.

And I understand because, you know, we have cops and robbers and whatever we do, when I say cops and robbers, we have people who are going to cheat.

To this day, they’re still going to try to cheat.

That's not who I am at the end of the day.

And so for my peers to feel they didn't give me due process, it was upsetting, but I forgave them because that's the only way I can move forward is to forgive people.

If I didn't forgive the whole world, I would have had no friends because pretty much everybody had doubt.

My director had doubt for a minute.

That's why the documentary helped me.

Because not just me talking.

I have the TV talking and I have my director talking that this is an injustice.

This is not right, you know?

And I can't keep yelling this injustice or this is not right, because then I'm not taking care of my business, I'm not moving ahead.

I'm not growing.

It was hard to continue to grow on the pace that I was growing at.

As a world record holder at 24 years old, you know, my life changed.

I was making $100,000 a race, you know, and at 25 years old, $100,000 to making zero.

And you have to adjust to that.

And I think that's why I lean on God so much.

I thank him so much because I broke the world record because of him.

I fough the world because of him.

And I'm standing here today giving back even more because of him.

- When all this is going on and I mentioned the political rhetoric because if you remember, you go back in time.

That's during the Cold War.

So he was caught in the middle of all that going on.

And Butch, his credit, pulled back verbally.

But so often in today's society, when someone is faced with something, they're going to be verbal, they're going to be outspoken.

And when you pull back, sometimes society looks at that as being guilty.

So you had to fight that as well of pulling back, believing in yourself when other people are saying other things.

- Well, you know, people say use the system, work through the system.

So that's what my focus was, and my system was to go to my federation to clear my name.

There was the federal courts, then the U.S.

Supreme Court.

I want every court.

I want every hearing using the system.

And when I got to London, England, when the system was going to fail me with the world governing body of track and field, they’re going to give me a false— They're going to give me two years, no matter what.

They wanted to give me four years.

They want to give me another four years on top of the two I’ve already spent.

Okay?

But I tell you... Peabo Bryson, he just passed away.

I ran into Peabo Bryson in London, England, and Peabo— That’s when I got to word from the world governing body, they wasn't going to— They were going to keep the suspension together.

They were gonna keep it going.

And I was going to lose my cool then.

And I’ll tell you how God works.

You know?

I ran into Peabo Bryson in London, England.

I'm just walking down the street and I look up and I said, Peabo.

He said, yo, what's up Butch?

I'm like, whoa, you know, it was like— And he kind of calm me down.

He gave me a different perspective and the perspective that I can sit here today with.

Because when I was going through that press conference was, I probably wouldn't be sitting here today because I was— I had some very choice words and very choice feelings through that process at the time.

And like anybody would, you know, you get to 27, your name, your livelihood taken from you, it can put you in a very, fist fight mindset and I couldn't do that.

I couldn't go that direction.

And when he, when I talked to Peabo, he calmed me down and made me look at a different perspective.

And when I look at that, I look at Jesse Owens, 1936, he goes to Germany, okay, and regime with Hitler.

And he comes back to 1936.

He's still a black man in the United States in 1936.

And everybody who tells me and talk about Jesse Owens was talking about how humble he was.

And I look at my situation, I'm like, man, it's hard to be humble.

Especially back then, it was even harder to be humble.

So to be humble it's definitely a testimony that when I watched somebody like Jesse Owens and you see the humbleness, no matter where I go, no matter what country I'm in.

When they see Jesse Owens, they know I'm part of Ohio State.

They already connect.

And everybody tell me how much of a humble man he is.

And I just, I just sit back and like, amazed that he won four gold medals.

He can't come to the front door to eat his dinner.

He got to go to the back door to eat his dinner.

And they still say how humble he is.

So that gave me the energy to stay humble, to go through this process because you can help more people being humble.

Nobody want you around if you have a negative attitude.

Nobody want you around if you're not a positive person.

And being a coach, and I live my life being a coach for 30 years, I had to be humble.

I had to be motivating no matter what the situation I was going through.

So my training was always therapeutic for me.

When I train my kids, when I train my athletes, it was therapeutic, it was like a counseling session for me at that time.

You know, they're able to motivate people, get back and see their glow, see their happiness.

- I want to bring Ismail back into the conversation.

Putting this movie, this documentary together and all the investigating that you had to do, all the research you had to do.

And as this thing comes together, all of a sudden your quality perspective going into the project becomes ever so clear.

Talk about that learning process for you.

- Well, you know, as a film, as a storyteller, you go in, it's almost like you want, you don't go in with like what your mind made up of what the story is going to be.

You know, I some people, some filmmakers are like, well, I'm telling a story.

I think really as a good filmmaker, you kind of let the process guide you, you know, and then as the process moves along, the story unfolds, you know, so.

I mean, wasn't that I, you know, didn't believe in Butch.

It was just the fact that we knew track and field was a dirty sport.

You know, it's everybody, you know, it's, you know, like, like Butch’s agent said in the film, everybody's a, everybody's a dirty athlete except the one that you're talking to.

You know what I'm saying?

So it's like, so it wasn't that I didn't believe in him.

It was just the fact that if I was going to make a very objective piece of art, I needed to go in with the open mind and be open to things unfolding the way they just need to unfold naturally, you know?

So, but throughout the process, you know, you know, and doing that investigative work and studying the legal documents and getting the interviews, and I did so many interviews for this film, you know, but I found it.

But what was interesting to me was like, you know, some of the more prominent track and field athletes that Butch competed with and against, they didn't want to be a part of the film.

I'm not going to say any names.

Carl Lewis.

Michael Johnson, you know.

But we reached out to everybody and, but, you know, as the investigative process, you know, evolved and it started to present itself, you know, it was like, man, this man got railroaded.

And once I got to that point, I just wanted to lay out a compelling story that took people by the hand and help them understand, a lot of, you know, a lot of complex legal jargon concepts, ideas.

I just wanted to take them by the hand and just lay it out plain so everyone can understand it.

And so he could be regained.

- The interview process, for those of you who have seen the film is really compelling.

But I also think from an artistic perspective, the way you zeroed in on Butch with the emotions of his face, talk about that idea.

Because to me, that's really the star almost of the film.

- Well, I honestly got that idea... There's a 2015 documentary called “Salt of the Earth,” and it was so interesting.

It's like, you know, I'm a documentary head.

You know, I just watch all kind of docs.

And I came across “Salt of the Earth” and, and that full frame shot was just so beautiful to me, you know, the way it was colored, you know, the coloring process.

And so once I was, once I knew I was going to tell Butch’s story, I was like, man, I want to shoot this full frame shot the same way.

You know, I had already in my mind what I wanted it to look like.

Because, you know, Butch, you know, he got the emerald green eyes.

You know, I was like, I want, I want that just to be in people's face, you know?

But at the same time, I also felt like I wanted him to be kind of like, sitting on a perch, almost, because it's like, you know, you're telling people that you're not guilty.

We're going to put you right in people's— We're going to put you right in the world's living room.

The only thing they’re going to see is your face, because the thing is, it's like, you know, sometimes when, when you look at people's faces and they're not telling the truth, you can pick up on things.

So I wanted to put him on the spot like that.

You know, and, you know, so it was, so we used kind of like this, it was a camera rig.

It was like— And it's like, it's a camera but it's like a mirror on two sides.

So I'm looking in the mirror.

In the mirror I can see Butch's face.

Butch is sitting on the other side.

He's looking into a mirror, and he can see my face.

So we're just looking at each other, and I'm just grilling him.

You know?

Because I wanted to evoke that emotion, you know, you know, from him, you know, we shot over at the, over on Maple Street where the old fire department is over on Maple Street.

And we got to that part of the interview where I was asking him to talk about his mom, you know, and, you know, and, we both broke down.

You know, it's like, you know, and I was like, man, you know, I was like, I had never saw Butch on that level, you know, for him just to break down the tears like that.

And when he broke down, I was like, oh, we got something.

I knew, I knew at that point when he broke down in tears, I was like, man, this is going to be so moving.

You know, he’s just like, I just knew that we had made something enduring.

And I was just so happy with the product.

- Terrific.

For and again, for those of you who don't know the whole story, a faulty blood sample is what led to the false positive.

I urge you to go watch the documentary, “False Positive.” And I want to use that word positive with you Butch, I'm going to go back to you.

You've taken this and really made your life positive for not only you, your family in the greater Akron area.

So talk about what you're now doing and building in Akron.

- Oh, I'm always doing something.

I'm always doing something.

Right now, me and Ismail Al-Amin is, we’re working on a book together now.

We’re working on— I did a book earlier, and it wasn't my book.

You know, it was more of my writer's book.

And I told Ismail, I said, hey, I have to do another book.

That didn't work for me because I don't know what was on page three, or page 300.

I wouldn't know.

I said, but when we do a book, I’m going to know what's on page three and what's on page 300.

So we've been starting the process on that.

I have a script to do a movie.

So I'm reading that over now, trying to see if I want them to do it or not.

I'm still training every day.

I train somebody every day.

It keeps me, you know, with the new NIL now going on, I got kids that want to train harder now.

If certain kids train harder.

Some kids don't want to train at all.

That's what it is.

You know, some kids get motivated and some kids don't, is not motivated.

So that's what I do now and just try to best be stay positive and be the positive person that I can be.

It's not hard being positive because I think my, my upbringings with the ethics, values and morals was always positive.

So with the upbringings it’s made it easy.

- My final question and then we're going to open it up to the audience here in a second.

We saw the video of you about 20 minutes ago, I believe that was in Zurich.

- Right.

- Greatest run of your life or since we all saw the video, take us through that run.

And what was going through your mind as you started.

And then that kick when he passes people when it looked like they were standing still.

So talk about that race.

- I give a lot of credit to, of course, God and all of my coaches.

I mean, because I only had two coaches leading up to that time, and then both of them had a lot of respect and love for Butch Reynolds.

It starts with that piece.

When I got to Zurich, Switzerland, my goal was just to win the race because that was the same year as Olympic gold medal in 1988 in Seoul, Korea with a month before the Olympics.

So I just wanted to win the race and get ready to win the gold medal in 1988.

Well, I had other things happening because that 43.29 came out of nowhere.

And when that came up and we ran that, of course it changed everything.

Like I said, I started making $100,000 a race after that day.

My life changed, so.

Now that race there, when Innocent Egbunike got out so quick.

He kind of changed the mindset.

They say in our press conference he was a rabbit.

But it's hard to have a rabbit in 100m or the 200 to 400.

But when he got out the way, he got out, he was considered a rabbit, because when we came back, they got to get him.

He was no longer there, I think he finished fourth or fifth place.

So, when we came out to go get him, he set the tone for me.

And I just knew that, you know, I looked up some video when I ran and I looked at Olympic trials in 1988, and I had two guys right behind my shoulder, Steve Lewis and Danny Everett.

And I said, this time they're not going to be there.

So I did not— We're taught not to look back in life, not to look back when you run.

Because when you look back, you're going to lose some ground moving forward.

No matter what in life.

You'll look back.

You'll lose ground and running.

Look back, you'll lose ground.

So I was taught not to lose ground.

Stay focused.

So when I was looking at opening up, I didn't know what I was doing, really.

But I know it was the worst feeling I felt in my whole entire life.

I never felt so much pain from my head to my toe.

I was this— I blanked out for good 30 seconds.

I didn't know where I was at for 30 seconds.

And then my brother let me know that you did it.

I ain't know what he was talking about when he kept saying you did it.

I’m like, did what?

You know?

You know, I was just that removed.

But, it was a great day after that.

And I did a press conference beforehand, in Zurich, Switzerland.

I was a young guy.

Nobody really knew me, and nobody had any questions.

There’s about 1,500 people, reporters.

And the guy said, he said, that's okay when this guy comes back, you guys will all have questions.

And soon enough, I came back, they all had questions.

Europe was good.

I love to travel.

I love going to different places.

It was a good time.

- Good words to live by.

Ladies and gentlemen, Butch Reynolds.

And great story putting together the documentary, Ismail Al-Amin.

- Can everyone hear me?

Okay, awesome.

I'm Natalie Schulte, I'm a member of the Akron Roundtable Board.

I'm a lawyer at Roetzel & Andress.

I also went to Hoban, and I also ran track, so kind of Butch Reynolds.

So we have a lot of questions.

I'm going to start with a funny one that came in a couple of times.

But when was the last time you sprinted?

- Whoa, whoa.

The next person that gave me opportunity was Coach Tressel.

He was the football coach at the Ohio State University for a few years.

Anyway, he came to my office with a team— A coaches meeting, not team, coaches meeting.

He said Coach Reynolds, he called me Coach Reynolds, he said, I think we should have you run the 400-meters.

I go, I'm not running no 400-meters.

And then he kept talking about it in the coaches meetings, and then the other coach that was coming in and said, coach, I don't think, you know, he's serious.

He wants you to run that 400 at the team meeting, you know.

And I said, if coach give me 27 million I'll run that 400-meter.

Right.

So I get to the track because I had to put the thing together, how to do the extra work.

And we had the whole team do a track meet.

So I had the whole— I broke the team up and we all did a track meet.

So I'm running the track meet.

In the middle of the track meet, I'm like, what's going on?

Why did he suspend the track meet?

He goes, okay, Coach Reynolds, your turn.

My eyes got this big.

I’m like, whoa, he's making me do this.

So I remember Brian Hartline.

You know, he gave me his track shoes and I ran the 400.

I ran like a 51, you know?

So... It was still pretty good then, I guess.

- Okay.

Let's see.

Do you feel there has been true accountability or an apology from these international sports bodies?

- That's an easy no.

I think that’s— - We had that conversation.

- Yeah, that's what we're trying to do now.

We thought that that would give them more inspiration to contact me and say, hey, does this make this wrong right?

But they feel like... They contacted me like we talked about.

They owe me 27.3 million times three, right?

- Yeah, it just, I think it just opens... I mean, ultimately, as you said, if you watch the film, we definitely put Nike on the spot, you know, because Nike treated him so unfairly.

So did World Athletics— Well, the IAAF, which is now World Athletics treated him so unfairly, but also I think we come to understand, it's like, if someone... Does provide a public apology they're opening up themselves to some financial liability too.

So we understand that, you know, but, you know, hopefully somebody down the road will do the right thing.

Hopefully.

- So another one, what specific life lessons from your Akron roots kept you going when you could have easily walked away from track and field?

- You know, I have to say, being the world record holder, being on top like that, I have to just the respect, the love, you know, it’s the love, the respect of Akron.

And you know, the Reynolds here, I mean, and, you know, going to Hoban and starting that whole process with Hoban and with Lebron and Saint V. It’s that, just starting that whole process.

I think, you know, my dad making decisions to send me there, started that process.

- That's awesome.

What is one tip for physical preparation and one tip for mental preparation for any upcoming athletes or students in the room?

- Mental.

I always speak positive affirmations about yourself.

No matter what the situation is, speak positive affirmation.

I don't like when people say, I'm so dumb.

No, you're not.

You know, it's a little figure of speech, but watch the affirmation that you give yourself.

And we think some kids don't— can't talk positive about themselves.

When I coach, I encourage you to tell me that you're the best because you're training with the best.

Okay?

So I coach them to speak more positive affirmations to yourself.

- Awesome.

For the documentary, were there any roadblocks in capturing this story that you were not able to overcome?

I know you're dealing with lawyers.

That's always fun.

- Yeah.

- Oh, yeah.

I think me and Ray, we were talking before this, some of the archival, you know, sometimes when you see it, when you watch documentaries and you see old clips, news clips and photos and things like that, you know, I don't think people understand the process behind it.

It's like, you know, we pay the International Olympic Committee 27 point— I'm going to say $27 million a minute, I'm sorry, $27,000 a minute for that archival.

So the biggest roadblock is we ran out of money, you know, but, you know, so thankful that we had good people over at ESPN, you know, who believed in the priority, who believed in the story so much that they cut us another check, you know, to finish the film.

And of course, you know, you have to have good, you know, like she said, you have to have good attorneys.

You know, who, who knows how to engage people and, and dialog with people to get things clear to you.

But I would say probably the biggest obstacle was, yeah, just paying for the archival that we used.

- Another question.

What does a pitch to ESPN look like?

- Oh, a pitched ESPN looks like... We put together a deck.

A deck it's a proposal.

It talks about the film.

It talks about the subject.

It talks about the story.

It talks about the team behind the story.

So it's a written proposal.

It's a digital proposal.

So basically, it talks about how the esthetic of the film is going to look, talks about the runtime, you know, it really just lays out everything about the film.

And then you usually, you usually meet with— We had three meetings with ESPN.

So the first meeting was with the development people.

Then, you know, if they like it, they pass you on to the next level of people, and then you kind of do the, you do the presentation again.

And then if it gets past those gatekeepers, then you meet the execs.

So our last, our last meeting with was with Brian Lockhart and Marshall Cook, who are like the big wigs over at ESPN films and we were, you know— So that was our last meeting.

And that's when the check got cut.

And we were at work two months later.

- Butch, I know a lot of people look up to you.

Are there any— Is there a specific athlete that you particularly admire in your journey and even if that's changed now?

- You know, when I was a little kid, I always looked up to Muhammad Ali and Jesse Owens, of course.

And my uncle, he played professional football.

So how are you going to not see that and feel like I can do that one day.

- That's awesome.

So there’s a lot of things in your life so far that you've been known for.

When it comes down to it, what do you want your legacy to be?

- Woah.

Woah.

- That's a good one.

- Yeah.

Somebody taking after you, Ray.

I would say... Almost like Jesse Owens, he’s a good guy.

You know, he fought for what he believed in.

He's a good guy.

He gave a lot back.

I think that’s— I'd be happy with that.

- It's pretty good.

I think we all want that.

Let's see.

Any insight in the future of track and field for the United States?

I think 2028 here in the U.S.

is going to be interesting.

I think that track and field should do really well because some NCAA guys doing really, really well.

And by two years they're going to be a little bit more seasoned.

So I think they're going to be knocking on the door for some young (unknown), for some young, you know, some young athletes.

- That's awesome.

Let's see.

What has been your favorite race you've ever run.

You can't count one that you've already won.

Like you can't count your big ones.

- Oh ok I was gonna say, that’s easy, Zurich, Switzerland.

What you guys just watched.

You know?

- Your most unknown or... - The race of life.

- Yeah.

- That's been the race right now for me.

It's the race of life.

Just living life.

Understanding that the curves I had to take and adapt those curves and keep moving me on that path, you know, stay on that path of righteousness.

So, yeah, that's been the biggest race right now, the race of life for me right now.

- And then for both of you guys.

I know you kind of touched on you writing books.

What are you most excited for that you're working on?

And how does that kind of tie in with Akron?

And anything you want to tell us about Akron.

- Personally, what I like to do is start my program here is the Gold Medal Mind focus program is to teach these youths how to have a positive mindset.

Because we cannot— Parents can't be there all the time.

Coaches can't be there all the time.

Can nobody be there all the time?

We gotta give them some tools that they can use and go and team in a handling adversity, handling life transitions, handling a bad, you know, attitude.

You know, give them tools that they can use to stay positive with that process because they gotta have something to make them say, that's not right.

That's not right.

When we're not there.

It helps the movement.

It helps the process.

And if somebody in that group says that's not right, it only takes one person to say, that's not right.

- Well, I would have to say, yeah, definitely the book.

Yeah.

You know, I'm honored to, you know, that Butch asked me to write the book, you know, so, I think it's going to be another compelling, more in-depth look at Butch’s story, because when you're making a film, you know, you know you only have an hour or 40 minutes to tell a life story.

So there’s so much got left on the editing floor.

So many, so many issues and things that happened during Butch’s ordeal got left out.

So we'll be able to capture a lot of that stuff in detail.

So, also I'm going to be directing the film coming up here for the 2022 Olympics, which will be a NBC and Peacock production, another track and field film coming up here.

So I'm happy about that.

- All right, one more question.

What is your most unique pre-race ritual that you've never told anybody?

- That I never told anybody.

Oh, man.

I'm glad it's G-rated, so I'm good with that piece.

You know, running for 27 years.

24 years is a long time.

So I've been through different rituals that you go through.

I used to take a little sip of honey, you know, little honey packages.

I used a little bit of honey packages, a little bit.

Just like a couple sips of my tongue.

Give me that honey boost.

The honey energy.

That's a little different that I have never told anybody, really.

- Well, there you go.

Everyone knows the secrets of an Olympian.

- A little honey.

- Awesome.

Well, thank you so much.

We cannot thank you enough.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's have another round of applause for our featured speakers today.

And a special thank you to Gardens Wealth Management.

I'd like to invite Senior Vice President Michael Batu up to present our speakers here today with the Don Drumm Commission Sun.

And also the newly commissioned sun, in celebration of our 50th anniversary for all three of our speakers today, we thank you so much.

We are so incredibly grateful for our time together today.

Ismail, Ray, and also Butch.

I think it's proof that Akron matters.

Integrity and character still matters.

And so we are greatly appreciated of your ability to share your story, the courage it takes and how it's transitioned to the arts.

And so, one last round of applause for our speaker and moderator.

As for next month, I will welcome food entrepreneurs Steve Marks and Harvey Nelson, who co-founded and co-led Main Street Gourmet.

It'll take place on Thursday, August 20th, 2026.

Their presentation is entitled, Do You know the Muffin Men?

The story behind Main Street Gourmet.

It'll be a unique format where we'll have two podiums and Harvey and Steve will share their story about how their business started almost 30 years ago and how it's become one of the largest providers in the region.

That being said, we will also have a Bring It Home event on Tuesday, September 1st at the Well Community Development Corporation.

In partnership with the Signature Series Luncheon where we will be featuring our very own immediate past president, Barry Dunaway, who will be moderating a conversation with local food entrepreneurs, including Erica Banks of Akron Food Works, and also Brent Wesley of Akron Honey and lastly, we will have Amy Mucha, who so graciously offered her daisy cake pops in celebration of our 50th anniversary.

That being said, we would love for you to join us next week in listening to our radio broadcast on WKSU.

We’ll also have a broadcast on WVIZ next Sunday and on August, excuse me, on July 23rd, Western Reserve Fusion channel, we will be streaming.

For information about upcoming speakers and also tickets and subscriptions, please visit akronroundtable.org.

Appreciate you all coming today and thank you for sharing with us.

Have a great afternoon.