John Regis (athlete)

John Lyndon Regis MBE (born October 13, 1966 in Lewisham) is a retired English athlete. He mainly competed in the 200 metres and was the first British athlete to run under 20 seconds for the distance. Regis still holds the UK record in this event. He also won two Olympic medals in relay races. The British 4x400 metres team from 1990, which Regis was a member of, set the European Championship record for the event. Since his retirement in 1999 he has worked in the media and sports management.

Regis was unusual in that, though primarily a 200 m runner, he was more than able to hold his own over 400 m - in a time before Michael Johnson made the 200/400 double a possibility. In particular, Regis formed an integral part of Great Britain's 4x400 m relay team, running the third leg in the team's famous unexpected victory over the USA (and everyone else) at the world championships in Tokyo in 1991.

John Regis was one of the foremost characters in the golden era of British athletics in the late 80s and early 90s, alongside Linford Christie, Sally Gunnell, Colin Jackson, Tony Jarrett et al. Although he had a winning, effervescent personality, he was perhaps most memorable for his enormous chest (earning him the nickname "two chests"), particularly when drawn in the inside lane in the 200 m, when his uncommon bulk made the tight bend difficult to negotiate.

Regis was awarded an MBE for services to athletics. He has now retired to Biggin Hill, South London. In 1989, Regis opened an all-weather running track at Wellesley Recreation Ground (known as The Well [http://www.runtrackdir.com/uk/pics/greatyarmouth/greatyarmouth-sr_hs-c640.jpg] ), Great Yarmouth. In 1995 Respect a 30 minute documentary was made about John Regis, produced and directed by Pogus Caesar and broadcast on Carlton TV in London.

In 2001, John and his wife Jennifer Stoute, celebrated the birth of their first child, Alicia.

Regis is a notable sufferer of OCD.

John's nephew Adam Regis was stabbed to death on Saturday, 17 March 2007. He had been following in his uncle's footsteps as an athlete.

Personal bests

*100 metres - 10.15 (Budapest, Hungary 29 May 1993)
*200 metres - 19.87 (Sestriere, Italy 31 Jul 1994, UK record)
*400 metres - 45.48 (Walnut CA, U.S. 17 Apr 1993)

Achievements

External links

*iaaf name|id=2383|name=John Regis
* [http://www.stellargroup.co.uk/personnel.php?id=27 Stellar Group Profile]