Linford Christie
About
Linford Christie OBE: Britain’s Sprinting Legend
In Detail
Linford Christie, OBE, stands as one of Britain’s most renowned sprinters, celebrated for his remarkable achievements on the track. He made history as the first British man to win gold medals in the 100 metres across all four major competitions open to British athletes and was the first European to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.
Christie’s athletic journey began at Henry Compton Secondary School in Fulham, London, where he excelled in physical education. He joined the Air Training Corps in 1978, laying the groundwork for his future career.
Career Highlights
In 1986, Christie clinched the 100 metres title at the European Championships and earned a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, finishing behind Ben Johnson. He also secured a bronze medal at the 1987 World Championships in Rome.
1992 marked a pinnacle in Christie’s career when he succeeded Allan Wells as the British Olympic 100m champion at the Barcelona Olympic Games. At the age of 32, he won gold with a time of 9.96 seconds, becoming the oldest Olympic 100m champion by four years.
In 1993, Christie co-founded Nuff Respect, a sports management and promotions company, with sprint-hurdler Colin Jackson. Their early product, a sports training video titled The S Plan: Get Fit with Christie and Jackson, became a popular fitness resource. That same year, West London Stadium was renamed the Linford Christie Stadium in his honour, and a large public sculpture celebrating the 2002 Commonwealth Games was inspired by Christie’s famous claim of starting races on the “B of the Bang.”
Media and Legacy
In 2010, Christie participated in the UK ITV reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, where he was the sixth contestant eliminated.
Christie remains one of the most respected figures in athletics. He is highly sought after as an after-dinner speaker and event host, drawing on his extensive experience and achievements in the world of sprinting.