Jamaican-born Linford Christie did not make his breakthrough until
the age of 26 when he claimed a surprise gold at the 1986 European
Championships. But by the time he quit the international stage 11 years
later, he had won every major outdoor title on offer. Coached by Ron
Roddan, Christie’s first taste of the Olympics came at Seoul 1988 when
his impressive bronze was upgraded to silver after controversial
Canadian Ben Johnson tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid.
But he won the 100 metres title at the uniquely advanced age of 32. Before him, Americans had won the blue riband competition 15 times in 23 Olympics. Christie was only the third Briton to have accomplished the feat, after Harold Abrahams in Paris in 1924 and Allan Wells in the boycotted final in Moscow in 1980. As with Abrahams, a Jew, the Jamaican-born Christie seemed driven by a desire to fight against perceived discrimination.
He stormed to glory ahead of Namibia’s Frankie Fredericks and Dennis Mitchell of the USA in a time of 9.96 seconds, becoming the oldest 100m Olympic champion in the process.
His legendary rival Carl Lewis had failed to qualify for Barcelona but a year later Christie had the opportunity to take his scalp at the World Championships in Stuttgart, while fellow Americans Mitchell and Andre Cason would also be tough to beat.
However, the British hero produced the fastest performance of his life to keep gold away from the dangerous American trio and his time of 9.87 seconds remains a national and European record to this day. Christie, who became famous for his “tunnel vision” approach, missed out on the medals two years on and his reign as Olympic king ended in bitter disappointment in Atlanta when he was disqualified for two false starts in the final.
But he won the 100 metres title at the uniquely advanced age of 32. Before him, Americans had won the blue riband competition 15 times in 23 Olympics. Christie was only the third Briton to have accomplished the feat, after Harold Abrahams in Paris in 1924 and Allan Wells in the boycotted final in Moscow in 1980. As with Abrahams, a Jew, the Jamaican-born Christie seemed driven by a desire to fight against perceived discrimination.
He stormed to glory ahead of Namibia’s Frankie Fredericks and Dennis Mitchell of the USA in a time of 9.96 seconds, becoming the oldest 100m Olympic champion in the process.
His legendary rival Carl Lewis had failed to qualify for Barcelona but a year later Christie had the opportunity to take his scalp at the World Championships in Stuttgart, while fellow Americans Mitchell and Andre Cason would also be tough to beat.
However, the British hero produced the fastest performance of his life to keep gold away from the dangerous American trio and his time of 9.87 seconds remains a national and European record to this day. Christie, who became famous for his “tunnel vision” approach, missed out on the medals two years on and his reign as Olympic king ended in bitter disappointment in Atlanta when he was disqualified for two false starts in the final.
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