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Linford Christie

Linford Christie
Linford Christie

Linford Christie (born April 2, 1960) is a former British athlete.

Born in Saint Andrew, Jamaica , Christie followed his parents, who had emigrated five years before, to Britain at the age of seven. He did not take up athletics until he was 19.

In 1986, he was the surprise winner of the 100 metres at the European Championships and finished second at the Commonwealth Games.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics, Christie won silver behind Carl Lewis, though only after Ben Johnson, who set a new World Record in 9.79 seconds, had been disqualified for a doping offence. In fact, Christie's urine also contained metabolites of a banned substance, however he was not stripped of his silver medal.

In 1992, he succeeded Allan Wells as a British Olympic 100 m champion, winning the title ahead of Namibian Frankie Fredericks. 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 also became the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

After 1994, he was less successful. Christie was disqualified in the 1996 Olympic final after two false starts, and in 1999, he was found guilty of using the banned drug nandrolone. Although the (now defunct) British athletic federation found him to be not guilty, the IAAF overruled and confirmed the suspension. Christie, who had for some time been focusing on coaching, subsequently retired.


Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's 100 m
Tom Burke | Frank Jarvis | Archie Hahn | Reggie Walker | Ralph Craig | Charlie Paddock | Harold Abrahams | Percy Williams | Eddie Tolan | Jesse Owens | Harrison Dillard | Lindy Remigino | Bobby Joe Morrow | Armin Hary | Bob Hayes | Jim Hines | Valeri Borzov | Hasely Crawford | Allan Wells | Carl Lewis | Linford Christie | Donovan Bailey | Maurice Greene | Justin Gatlin


Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Post-war British Olympic champions in men's athletics
1956 Chris Brasher (3000 m steeplechase) | 1960 Don Thompson (50 km walk) | 1964 Ken Matthews (20 km walk) | 1964 Lynn Davies (long jump) 1968 David Hemery (400 m hurdles) 1980: Allan Wells (100 m) | 1980 Steve Ovett (800 m) | 1980 & 1984 Sebastian Coe (1500 m) | 1980 & 1984 Daley Thompson (decathlon) | 1992 Linford Christie (100 m) | 2000 Jonathan Edwards (triple jump) | 2004 Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish & Mark Lewis-Francis (4 x 100 m relay)




Last updated: 02-10-2005 18:14:58
Last updated: 05-03-2005 17:50:55