DANNY MILLS: Everyone is saying my son George is just like me – but if my Olympics dream almost ended after a push, I’d have been arrested!
- George Mills appeared to get a push in the closing stages of the 5,000m
- Mills confronted Frenchman Hugo Hay after the incident in the last 100m
- Former Premier League star Danny watched on as his son sat amid the carnage of the race
Watching my son George Mills race in the Olympics is as bad for my nerves as taking a penalty kick in a shootout.
I know how much hard work and sacrifice he had to make to reach Paris. It would have been terrible if he had been knocked out by a collision during his 5,000m heat.
The race went pretty much according to plan until the last 100 meters.
George stayed close to the group, which moved very slowly, and he always felt at ease.
Hugo Hay, the French runner, gave him a push and it caused chaos as George and a few other runners ended up on the ground.
George Mills, left, confronted Frenchman Hugo Hay after an incident in the men’s 5,000 metres
The Team GB rider is the son of former Premier League and England defender Danny, right,
Mills was one of the runners who ended up on the track after a collision in the last 100 meters
It would have been hard to swallow if their Olympics had been ended by something they were not responsible for, so I am glad they were all back in the final.
George pointed his finger at the Frenchman after the race.
I talked to him about it later and he will regret his behavior, but it was an emotional reaction.
He could have handled it better, but how do you react when your Olympic dream falls apart in 10 seconds?
You could easily stick it next to a picture of me next to Robbie Savage, but it’s not an accurate comparison.
Everyone says, ‘He’s just like his father,’ but we’re totally different characters. If I was the one on that trail, my reaction would probably have gotten me disqualified and arrested!
Fans on social media were quick to suggest that Mills had the same fighting spirit as his father
Danny Mills, pictured, admitted the comparison was easy but highlighted the differences
George Mills reached the final of the 5,000 metres after a successful appeal
It will be a proud moment to see George in the final. He would have cut your hand off to play for Chelsea or England but running chose him and he has put so much work into it.
We’ve all been to Paris since the first round; his mother, brothers, sister, friends.
We will continue to travel and we will continue to support him, but for the sake of our health we want him to take it a little easier!