Linford Christie

Linford Christie
Medal record

Linford Christie in 2009
Men’s Athletics
Competitor for  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Gold 1992 Barcelona 100 m
Silver 1988 Seoul 100 m
Silver 1988 Seoul 4x100 m relay
World Championships
Gold 1993 Stuttgart 100 m
Silver 1993 Stuttgart 4x100 m relay
Bronze 1987 Rome 100 m
Bronze 1991 Tokyo 4x100 m relay
World Indoor Championships
Silver 1991 Seville 60 m
Silver 1991 Seville 200 m
European Championships
Gold 1986 Stuttgart 100 m
Gold 1990 Split 100 m
Gold 1994 Helsinki 100 m
Silver 1990 Split 4x100 m relay
Bronze 1990 Split 200 m
Bronze 1986 Stuttgart 4x100 m relay
European Indoor Championships
Gold 1986 Madrid 200 m
Gold 1988 Budapest 60 m
Gold 1990 Glasgow 60 m
Bronze 1988 Budapest 200 m
Competitor for  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold 1990 Auckland 100 m
Gold 1990 Auckland 4x100 m relay
Gold 1994 Victoria 100 m
Silver 1986 Edinburgh 100 m
Silver 1986 Edinburgh 4 x 100 m

Linford Cicero Christie OBE (born 2 April 1960) is a former sprinter from the United Kingdom. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games. He was the first European to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 m and still holds the British record in the event. He is a former world indoor record holder over 200 metres, and a former European record holder in the 60 metres, 100 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay. With 23 major championship medals including 10 gold medals, he is the most decorated British male athlete.

Christie's track career was ended when he received a two-year ban for taking a performance-enhancing substance, although he has always denied any wrongdoing. Since his retirement he has focused on coaching, helping Katharine Merry and Darren Campbell to Olympic medals, and his sports management company, "Nuff Respect".

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.

Contents

Biography

Early years

Christie was born in Saint Andrew, Jamaica, where he was brought up by his grandmother. At the age of seven he followed his parents, who had emigrated to Acton, London, England, five years before. He was educated at Henry Compton Secondary School in Fulham, London and excelled in P.E.. He also joined the Air Training Corps in 1978, 336 (Hammersmith) Squadron. He did not take up athletics seriously until he was 19.

Christie's early track career was not promising. He failed to make the Great Britain team for the 1984 Summer Olympics, not even being included in the sprint relay squad. It was not until he began to work in earnest under the coaching of Ron Roddan that he began to fulfil his potential.

In 1986, he was the surprise winner of the 100 metres at the European Championships and finished second at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh at 100m, behind Ben Johnson.

At the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome, Christie came fourth in the 100m, but was later awarded the bronze medal when winner Ben Johnson was disqualified after admitting years of steroid use.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Christie won 100m silver behind Carl Lewis after Ben Johnson, who set a world record in 9.79 seconds, was disqualified following a positive drug test for anabolic steroids.

Christie faced a disciplinary hearing himself in Seoul because of an adverse drug test for the banned stimulant pseudoephedrine after he ran in the heats of the 200m. The hearing panel decided by a single vote to give Christie "the benefit of the doubt", so no sanction was applied.

In 1992, Christie 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 absence of his great rival Lewis, 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, he became the first man in history to hold the Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles in the 100 m as he was victorious at the Stuttgart World Championships. He was also voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

After 1994, he was less successful. Christie was disqualified in the 1996 Olympic final after two false starts. He retired from representative international competition in 1997,[1] although he continued to make appearances at invitation meetings.

In February 1999, Christie competed in an indoor meet in Dortmund, Germany. A routine unannounced drug test found the banned substance nandrolone. After a six-month delay, a disciplinary hearing was convened by the British Athletic Federation which found Christie to be not guilty. But the IAAF overruled and confirmed a two-year suspension. Christie is also banned for life from British Olympic Association teams.

When the story of the positive drug test was first leaked to the press, it resulted in Puma opting not to continue Christie's £100,000 sponsorship contract. Three years earlier, at the Atlanta Olympics, Christie had worn contact lenses embossed with the Puma logo at the press conference preceding the 100 m final.[2] Reebok had paid $40 million to be the official sponsor, and Christie's actions were seen as ambush marketing and a breach of Olympic rules on the wearing of sponsor's logos by athletes.[3]

Though more famous for his exploits over 100 m, Christie broke the world indoor record over 200 metres with 20.25 s at Liévin in 1995, and remains the third fastest sprinter on the all time list.[4] He remains the British record-holder at 100 m, with the 9.87 s he ran at the 1993 World Championships.

By the end of his track career Christie had won 23 medals overall, more than any other British male athlete before or since. He was appointed MBE in 1990 and OBE in 1998.[5]

Later years and relationship with the press

In 1998, less than six months before his first positive drug test Christie won a libel action against the journalist John McVicar. McVicar had insinuated in a satirical magazine that Christie's remarkable rise from 156th in the world to triumph at an age when he should have been in decline could only have been achieved through performance-enhancing drugs.

The jury found in Christie's favour by a 10–2 majority. The judge ordered that McVicar should be bound by an injunction restraining him from accusing Christie of taking banned substances. The modest £40,000 damages awarded were outweighed by the cost Christie incurred to bring the case.

Christie's response to the press accusations

After the judgment, McVicar called Christie "The Judy Garland of the 100 metres", referring to the emotion that Christie had given before the court.[6]

During this case, Christie raised another of his grievances with the media – comments about the figure-hugging running suits that Christie wore in his races. The term Linford's lunchbox had been coined by The Sun newspaper in reference to the bulge of Christie's genitalia in his Lycra shorts.

"Linford's lunchbox is one of my grievances with the media. I don't like it … Nobody ever goes on about Sally Gunnell's breasts … I think it is disgusting, I don't like it at all."[7] In court, the judge Mr Justice Popplewell, caused hilarity in the court by asking Christie to explain the phrase, asking "What is Linford's lunchbox?"[8] The reference became a part of pop culture, as evidenced in a joke by Nick Hancock: "There's nothing new you can say about Linford Christie, except he's slow and has got a small penis".

Christie's anger at this unwanted attention led to his infamous "newspaper print" running suit, although he has deliberately drawn attention to his body on occasions: he has remarked that "A lot of people have looked at my physique and two things can come into their mind – admiration and envy."[9] and appeared shirtless and flexing his muscles on the BBC youth series Reportage in 1988.

In recent years, however, Christie appears to have come to terms with the 'lunchbox' label, disclosing his preference for briefs rather than boxer shorts, and in 2002 becoming the "face" of Sloggi, the men's underwear brand, posing for advertising wearing only underwear.[10][11]

B of the Bang: a sculpture named after a Christie quotation

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. Jackson was later to leave the enterprise, saying "Linford has to be in control, he has to be number one, he has to be the leader."[12] Since his positive drug test Christie – who had worked as a presenter on the BBC children's programme Record Breakers and also had a contract with BBC Sport – has spent less time as a public figure and has devoted most of his time to managing his company.

Reflecting upon his track career, he stated: "I will have no complaints if people remember me as one of the best athletes in the world."[7] Away from the track, Christie, a keen amateur gardener, he also co-hosted the BBC series Garden Invaders.

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. Owing to safety concerns, it was dismantled in 2009.

Drug ban

Christie tested positive for the stimulant Pseudoephedrine at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, but he escaped sanction after the International Olympic Committee's disciplinary committee voted by a margin of 11 to 10.[13] It was reported that two of the judging panel was asleep when the vote was taken. Reference to this is made in a television advert Christie made for Egg online banking in Autumn 1998.

At the 1994 European championships staged in Helsinki, where British team captain Christie won his third European 100m title, he was caught up in a doping controversy after Solomon Wariso, a 400m runner making his international championship debut, tested positive for the stimulant ephedrine. Wariso revealed that he had used an over-the-counter pick-you-up called "Up Your Gas", which Christie had bought at a Florida pharmacy.[14]

In 1999, Christie was found guilty of using the performance enhancing drug Nandrolone following a doping test after an indoor meet in Germany. He was found to have more than 100 times normal levels of the metabolites of nandrolone in his urine. Various explanations were offered to explain the results, including eating avocado, or using nutritional supplements.[15][16][17]

The IAAF rejected that explanation and gave Christie a two-year ban from athletics, despite UK Athletics feeling that there was "reasonable doubt whether the drug had been taken deliberately", a decision which ignored the usual drug testing principle of "strict liability".[18]

Christie has always denied any wrong doing. "If I took drugs there had to be a reason to take drugs. I had pretty much retired from the sport." Furthermore, he denied that his physique was gained through drug use and promoted an anti-steroid approach: "It does not follow that all athletes who are big take drugs... Only by testing all athletes will the sport be kept clean of drugs."[9]

Following the ban, the British Olympic Association announced that Christie would not be accredited for any future Olympic Games, in accordance with their regulations.

2011 Driving Ban

On 8 May 2010, Christie caused a head-on crash with a taxi as a result of driving on the wrong side of the A413 road in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire.[19][20][21] Four people, including a newly wed couple, were hurt.[19][20][21]

On 21 July 2011, he was convicted in Aylesbury Crown Court of careless driving and was disqualified from driving for 15 months and fined £5000, being acquitted of dangerous driving. Occupants of the other vehicle were seriously injured and are pursuing civil action against Christie.[19][20][21]

Role in the 2012 Olympics

In the successful London bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, Christie was absent from the team, even though he states he attempted to get involved. Christie has cited an ongoing feud between himself and former team-mate Sebastian Coe as a likely reason for the snub,[22][23] although since 1999 British athletics chiefs had "overlooked" Christie because of his positive nandrolone test.[24] Commenting on the argument, Christie's team mate, Derek Redmond, said he was "a well-balanced athlete; he has a chip on both shoulders."[25]

However in April 2006 it was announced that Christie would be a senior mentor for athletes on the national team, along with former athletes Steve Backley, Daley Thompson and Katharine Merry.[26] This proved controversial however, due to Christie's drugs ban. "I don't think he should be in that mentor role," said Paula Radcliffe, the marathon world record-holder. "We have to make sure that the people in that mentor role have an integrity and strong sense of ethics and morals."[27]

The BOA has confirmed that their ban on Olympic accreditation for Christie remains in place.[25] He was, however, personally invited by Ken Livingstone to be one of the carriers of the 2008 Olympic Torch on its journey through London, but was unable to accept because of coaching commitments.[28] (Ken Livingstone's office has disputed the claim that the invitation was from him. See the article referenced.)

Achievements

As of 2009, Christie's British record of 9.87 seconds in the 100 metres makes him the second fastest European in history; second only to Francis Obikwelu's 9.86 s personal best which broke Christie's European record.[29] His 100 m personal best fares favourably in comparison with his contemporaries: Carl Lewis and Frankie Fredericks managed 9.86 s while Leroy Burrell ran 9.85 s.[29]

His gold medal performances in world, European, Commonwealth and Olympic competitions rank him as one of the most successful 100 m sprinters in international events. He won 10 gold medals and a total of 23 medals over his career in major championships; the record for any British male athlete.[5] He was the third Briton, after Harold Abrahams and Allan Wells, and the fifth European to win the 100 m at the Olympic Games. He remains the oldest male athlete to win the 100 m at the Olympics.[5]

In the 4 x 100 metres relay event Christie's performance as anchor, alongside Colin Jackson, Tony Jarrett and John Regis, set a European record of 37.77 s at the 1993 World Championships. This was beaten six years later by a 37.73 s run by a British team, which included his protégé Darren Campbell.[30] However, Christie's team's performance is still the second fastest 4 x 100 m performance by a European team and one of the best by a non-United States relay team.[31]

Over 60 metres, Christie set a European record of 6.47 s in 1995 which was beaten by fellow Briton Jason Gardener in 1999 with 6.46 s. Christie has the fourth fastest time over the distance for a European after Gardener, Ronald Pognon[32] and the current European record holder Dwain Chambers.

Christie also holds 3 current 35–39 masters age group world records. On 23 September 1995, Christie set the current M35 world record of 9.97 in the 100 metres. On 25 June 1995 he set the current M35 world record in the 200 metres in 20.11 seconds and on 3 January 1997 Christie set the current indoor record in the M35 60 metres in a time of 6.51 seconds.

In 2010, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame.

Date Event Venue Time (seconds)
19 February 1995 60 metres Liévin, France 6.47
15 August 1993 100 metres Stuttgart, Germany 9.87 (UK national record)[33]
4 September 1994 150 metres Sheffield, United Kingdom 14.97[34]
28 September 1988 200 metres Seoul, South Korea 20.09
1988 300 metres ? 33.80
1991 400 metres ? 47.75

Personal life and family

Christie's niece Rachel Christie was crowned Miss England in 2009 though later relinquished the title following allegations of assault.[36]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Christie: Legend under fire BBC Sport (1999-08-04) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  2. ^ Olympics Photo gallery Canoe.ca (1996-07-25) Retrieved 2009-01-20
  3. ^ Incoming URL Redirect
  4. ^ 200 Metres All Time IAAF Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  5. ^ a b c d Linford Christie – Hall of Fame Athletes UK Athletics; Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  6. ^ Thackray, Rachelle (1998-06-28). What the papers said The Independent; Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  7. ^ a b L. Christie & T. Ward, Linford Christie: An Autobiography (1990, updated 1996 as To Be Honest With You)
  8. ^ Oborne, Peter. The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1998/06/19/nlin19.html. [dead link]
  9. ^ a b L. Christie & J. Nicholson, A Year in the Life of Linford Christie (1996)
  10. ^ Showing his undies is no hard Sloggi for Linford. Swindon Advertiser (2002-06-12) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  11. ^ Brooke, Simon (2003-01-30) Real men wear thongs The Times; Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  12. ^ Colin Jackson, The Autobiography (2003)
  13. ^ Christie takes the stand BBC Sport (2000-11-21) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  14. ^ Knight, Tom (22 August 2000). "Shadow over Christie's reputation". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/4768790/Shadow-over-Christies-reputation.html. Retrieved 7 May 2010. 
  15. ^ Professor Ron Maughan, University of Aberdeen. Contamination of supplements: an interview with professor Ron Maughan by Louise M. Burke PubMed Retrieved 2009-01-20
  16. ^ Moorcroft backs medical research BBC Sport (2000-08-02) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  17. ^ Tseng, Y. L.; Kuo, F. H.; Sun, K. H. (2005). "Quantification and profiling of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone in human urine after consumption of a nutritional supplement and norsteroids". Journal of Analytical Toxicology 29 (2): 124–134. PMID 15902981. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/pres/jat/2005/00000029/00000002/art00007. 
  18. ^ British trio rocked by doping bans BBC Sport (2000-08-21) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  19. ^ a b c Hayden Smith (22 July 2011). "15-month road ban for Olympic champ Christie". Metro (Associated Newspapers Ltd): p. 17. 
  20. ^ a b c Lee Moran (22 July 2011). "Pictured: The carnage left behind after Linford Christie smashed head-on into taxi while driving on the WRONG side of the road". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers Ltd). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017375/Linford-Christies-wrecked-Audi-crashed-taxi-pictured.html. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
  21. ^ a b c Matthew Taylor (21 July 2011). "Linford Christie banned from driving after wrong-way crash". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/21/linford-christie-banned-driving-crash. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
  22. ^ Christie hits out at Olympic snub BBC Sport (2005-10-14) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  23. ^ Coe and Christie clash again BBC Sport (2002-02-08) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  24. ^ Campbell wants Christie call-up BBC Sport (2006-07-05) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  25. ^ a b Faces of the week BBC Sport (2006-08-11) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  26. ^ British legends get mentor roles BBC Sport (2006-08-04) Retrieved on 2008-01-20
  27. ^ Radcliffe attacks Christie role BBC Sport (2006-08-13) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  28. ^ Christie will not be torch bearer BBC Sport (2008-02-22) Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  29. ^ a b "100 Metres All Time". IAAF. 20 January 2009. http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=O/age=N/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=100/detail.htmx. Retrieved 20 January 2009. 
  30. ^ United Kingdom all-time lists men gbrathletics; Retrieved 2008-01-20
  31. ^ 4x100 Metres Relay All Time IAAF Retrieved on 2008-01-20
  32. ^ 60 Metres All Time IAAF; Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  33. ^ United Kingdom national records and best performances; gbrathletics; Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  34. ^ Commonwealth All-time lists; gbrathletics; Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  35. ^ Christie Linford Biography IAAF; Retrieved on 2009-01-20
  36. ^ "Miss England assault case dropped". BBC News. 7 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8607292.stm. 

Further reading

  • Mackay, Duncan (1996). Linford Christie. Weidenfeld and Nicholson. ISBN 0297835300. 

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Nigel Mansell
BBC Sports Personality of the Year
1993
Succeeded by
Damon Hill
Sporting positions
Preceded by
None
Men's European Athlete of the Year
1993
Succeeded by
Colin Jackson
Records
Preceded by
Poland Marian Woronin
European Record Holder Men's 100 m
24 September 1988 – 22 August 2004
Succeeded by
Portugal Francis Obikwelu

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