Mark Butler’s route from Sittingbourne Athletics Club member to top BBC statistician at London 2012 was a long and eventful one. He spoke to reporter Lewis Dyson.

In a career spanning 28 years, he has travelled the world, covering the past four Olympic Games, numerous Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships but he says there has been nothing like working at his home Games.

Mark fed fascinating bits of data to commentators like Paul Dickenson and Brendan Foster, as well as presenters Denise Lewis, Colin Jackson and Michael Johnson.

The 52-year-old estimates he worked 100 hours in each of the two weeks leading up to the Games and would often stay up until 6am preparing notes on every athletics event.

While most people were transfixed by the feats unfolding before them, Mark was busily clicking a stopwatch or rifling through databases to give the announcer something to say.

His name was brought up at least twice during the coverage and people can see him in an internet clip of an excited Steve Cram during Mo Farah’s 5,000m victory.

Despite all his hard work Mark, who grew up in Minster and lived in Swale until he was 29, would prefer it if he went unnoticed.

“It’s my job to make them look good,” he said. “I don’t want my name to be mentioned, I want the broadcast to be seamless. If I’m doing my job properly, I shouldn’t be mentioned anyway.”

From the commentary box in front of the finish line at the Olympic Stadium, Mark witnessed world records smashed and champions made, but his personal highlight was the crowd.

He said: “You have never seen a crowd like it. You knew what was going to happen, they were going to go crazy for the British athletes.

"But there is a magical warmth about British crowds where they will cheer absolutely everyone, even the guy who could have beaten [long jump gold medallist] Greg Rutherford.”

Mark, who splits his time between Surrey and Minster, added: “The Olympics in your own country has got to be the most special.

“You felt you had to give your best performance, so I did feel quite a lot of pressure because you can never stop looking for things that might be interesting.”

A funny thing happened....

Mark’s job is not all facts and figures. He also researches interesting anecdotes about athletes.

Some of his favourites from London 2012 include one about Ivan Ukhovcorr, the Russian high jumper.

In 2008, he was give a warning for appearing to be drunk during a competition.

Footage of the competitor looking unsteady on his feet has become a YouTube hit, reaching more than three million views.

He also chooses to compete in sprinter’s spikes rather than specially-made high jump footwear, which seems to have paid dividends, as he went on to win gold at the Games.

Mark said: “I think he’s great. I wish there were more athletes like him.”

He also finds out background stories on athletes, such as American 110-metre hurdles champion, Aries Merritt who was discovered after a coach saw him jumping over a fence as a youngster.

Remembering his local roots, Mark added: “I used to be a member of Sittingbourne Athletics Club; it was the first club I joined just after I left school at 18.

“I used to run at the Oaks School, so I have great memories of the town.”