Linford Christie

About

Linford is Britain’s most-famous sprinter, and for good reason. He was the first British man to win gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes. He was also the first European to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meter sprint.

Linford Christie (Linford Cicero Christie OBE) was educated at Henry Compton Secondary School in Fulham, London where he excelled in physical education. He went onto join the Air Training Corps in 1978.

In 1986, he won the 100 metres at the European Championships and finished second at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, behind Ben Johnson. He also received a bronze medal at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome.

1992 was a big year for Linford. He succeeded Allan Wells as a British Olympic 100 m champion, winning the title ahead of Frankie Fredericks, of Namibia at the Barcelona Olympic Games. In the final Christie ran 9.96 s in the final, and at 32 years old became the oldest Olympic 100 m champion by four years.

In 1993 Christie formed a sports management and promotions company, Nuff Respect, with sprint-hurdler Colin Jackson. One of their early products was a sports training and workout video, The S Plan: Get Fit with Christie and Jackson.

Also in 1993 the West London Stadium was renamed the Linford Christie Stadium in his honour. Christie’s famous claim that he started races on the “B of the Bang” inspired a large public sculpture of the same name. Erected as a celebration of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, it was officially unveiled by Christie in 2004.

In 2010, Christie appeared on the UK ITV television channel’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! show, subsequently becoming the sixth person to be eliminated, on 30 November 2010.

One of the most respected figures in athletics history, Linford Christie is in demand as an after dinner speaker and event host.