Linford Christie Life Story

The story of World, Olympic, Commonwealth and European 100m champion.

[@haatpraat2993]

I remember just moving from the UK to live in The Netherlands in 1992 when the Olympics were on in Barcelona. That night when Christie won gold I remember speaking to a lot of Dutch people in a bar boasting Britain had a 100m champion and that he was from a parish in Jamaica very close to where both my parents were born. I felt 10 feet tall because of Christie on that night.

[@redd605]

I agree the next year he became world champion but missed the world record by 1000s and I felt so disappointed because he would never get that chance again .to be world record holder in the blue ribbon event

[@superfaces]

Linford Christie is such a class act

[@advex4428]

@RockVoyage68556 _xbox Nothing. Just a troll full of hype-envy.

[@forgive7449]

@RockVoyage68556 _xbox 😕 he means linford is a drug cheat

[@Sjb2077]

Seb Coe, I am 73 years old, just started running and have have just found that drive to win. It is Linford Christie that gives me inspiration. Thank you to him

[@atomikmaster1]

I met Linford in 2000 and he was nothing but a true gentleman I respected him before that. Shaking his hand was something I'll never forget, he is a true hero. Cheers Mr Christie 👍

[@blackgold1980]

@1unsung you sound like such a hater. Jesus! How much do you get paid for trolling like this?

[@glensmall9194]

@@blackgold1980 Facts don't care about your uninformed opinions. I am well informed. You are not. Do some research and don't expect anyone to respect what you say because it's just another stupid, uninformed opinion.

[@blackgold1980]

@@glensmall9194 Wow that put me in my place. Some random on the internet telling me that I am ill informed so it must be true. I would love to know what you have achieved in the world of athletics compared to Linford Christie. Tell me o wise one.

[@mathewstovell5167]

@1unsung You came here to watch a video of a man you disrespect. And all these years later - to post in the comment section. You sad moron.

[@gavintifler4606]

Want some 🍵 tea

[@misscritique84]

One of the men that always seem to respect Linford was John Rosenthal, Good on ya John

[@ant1georgiou]

Jim

[@jasbhabra6843]

Good man Jim - humble, kind and encouraging 😎🙏🏾💪

[@ndnd708]

18 mins, I respect Linford Cristie for not bad mouthing Ben Johnson. He said something the media was not expecting to hear!

[@frankcoletta]

Class - and all he did post the Olympics too was reflect on how amazing Ben's run was. Respect.

[@musik102]

He didn't bad mouth Ben because he, Christie, was also a drug taker!

[@djc0108]

musik102 Didn’t stop Carl Lewis bad mouthing.

[@reallymysterious4393]

@@musik102 EXACTLY !!! Christie and Lewis both cheated ...

[@terrencekelly1256]

@@musik102 pretty much all of them were🙄

[@RogueCylon]

In ‘96 my mum met Linford and some of the Olympic team on a delta flight to Atlanta. He was really generous with his time with my mum and for that I will forever see Linford as not just a star of British athletics, but a wonderful human being with absolute generosity.

[@vonbar8537]

Linford Christie is a world class athlete and I am honoured to train at the same track as him and continue the sport of athletics

[@rudeboyranking4339]

The guy is a true Olympian and a legend and just because he didn’t play ball with certain people and members of the press they set out to destroy him and then say he’s got a chip on his shoulder. LEGEND

[@davelove6235]

You can see the sincerity and love in him .

[@SS-iy5zo]

Linford is a very humble man. Treats everyone like a friend in a crowd he’s acts like just one of the boys. That makes him...greatness personified.

[@anilpandey6923]

He deserves the respect

[@dogblessamerica]

What a lovely guy and what a sense of pride he gave us, a true world class athlete.

[@WAIAMS]

None

[@abdullahabdullah4588]

I cannot remember an era that compared to that era of running and boxing. Linford was an integral part of that and rightly is celebrated. I wish him and all those amazing runners at the time the very best

[@J3nJ3n13]

I met him once and he was respectful, he is and was misinterpreted and misunderstood. He was a great athlete

[@blueskiesabove3950]

I remember meeting Linford as a kid when he opened my local sports centre in Acton, everyone was thrilled to see him. His laugh and smile was so infectious. A humble legend and the definitely the people's champ.

[@charlesmendias1062]

All I knew of Linford we're the races on NBC sports. Shocked at how kind he is. Pathetic that U.K. because of politics kept him out of 2012 Olympics.

[@ezeztztz]

Because he’s a drugs cheat,who got away with it for far too long,

[@loreljacq5744]

I met the legend 2004 he came and shook my hand. Legend. UK don't know how to take care of our pro athletes. If he had gone America 🇺🇸. They would have blessed him in Gold

[@alpromotions]

Respect Linford...grew up watching this champion and followed his journey culminating in Barcelona 1992

[@NSW-ye3xw]

Linford Christie was always exciting to watch. He won every major title in athletics. He was part of the 90s golden era. Back then they didn’t give out knighthoods like they do know. If he was in his prime today, he would be Sir Linford. That is a real shame!

[@elizabethsmith3793]

Linford I love you! I loved you from when I was 11 years old. I have personally watched you run You are my hero! I missed out out on the junior athletics back in late 1990s and went into the British Army. I still love watching Athletics. But you Tony Regis, Colin Jackson, Sally Gunell and Steve Backley are my inspiration xxxxx

[@danny8465]

Great piece.. Linford was my childhood hero and gave me so many great memories. Its a travesty he wasn't celebrated at the 2012 games.

[@pughy79]

He’s an absolute gent and was certainly a role model for me growing up. You should be very proud of yourself Linford! Both of your achievements in sport but also for who you are as a bloke. Good on ya. You’re a testament to the UK.

[@dronemonkey2038]

Thank you for all the suspense and tension in the race build ups....A remarkable human being and super ATHLETE

[@jonnybravo3055]

British legend but can also been seen as a national tragedy because of how he was treated.

[@mickburton6838]

Jonny Bravo The British press strikes again. Professional misinformers. It goes way beyond pulling down decent people like Linford. They’re undermining our very democracy with their manipulations.

[@jonnybravo3055]

@@mickburton6838 👍🏼

[@bluesmaster9896]

I just watched him on "the tv that made me" What an absolute diamond geezer .

[@minh4863]

Massive respect. Great documentary, thank you.

[@douglasalston5781]

Well done. Thx for sharing this view of a great champion and a model gentleman.

[@a_bb_a6356]

I remember watching him as a kid in Nigeria. Absolute legend

[@gerryboy3699]

Big Linford, what a legend. The Olympic Committee need to give this man his respect.

[@vanessapedia]

Seems like such a Down to Earth Man and he was a Magnificent Athlete...Good on You Linford...Respect to You :)

[@Leest0n]

Met Linford in around 92 ish, I was an annoying kid after an autograph at Cosford arena in-door center. After the event loads of kids ran up to Linford to get his signiture, my little sister got squashed and trampled as she fell down in the crowd. Two weeks later in the post RR had sent 2 signed photos of Linford and one with Ron and a letter. You couldn't ask for better roll model in sports at that time! 41 now and my sister still has the letter and photos! :-)

[@richard141724]

Met Mr Christie in Oslo after a meet. Totally down to earth.

[@mrtee8674]

Linford was one of my heroes. By watching his technique I became the fastest runner in my neighbourhood. To me back then it felt like winning a goid medal. I salute you sir.

[@cetti4405]

Doping or not, Johnson has a beautiful running style.

[@ryrilo5078]

Sao Pooh ...it was a glimpse into the future..Jamaican as well.

[@2RCHA]

@@ryrilo5078 Absolutely!,,,Jamaica's "Anti-Doping" administration only has a paisley $600,000 to work with, w/ the Result of Athlete's Not being tested for month's @ a time, and No Blood testing availability as well. This should put every Jamaican record in question!

[@ryrilo5078]

2RCHA ...when i said a glimpse into the future i meant the time...not the cheating.

[@2RCHA]

@@ryrilo5078 It's the sad truth of it, PED's first made their appearance at the '36 Olympic game's, and have been on steady Incline ever since, as 'testing' got better, the PED's got better, w/ the present day zenith of Drug's that "evaporate" totally from one's Urine/Blood after administration,,,,just enough time,,,to say Win a 100 m Race.

[@2RCHA]

Jesse Owen's achievement @ the '36 games was done by Pure athleticism, and Heart due to the atmosphere, circumstance, and pressure surrounding the Nazi dominated spectacle. That was probably the last time anybody witnessed a "Clean" American finalist, as it was widely known that the German team was on a 'Juice' regimen @ the time,, His time should be considered the Template of a "Clean" run,,,No-One should of been able to best his time, running cleanly then, or Now.

[@johnnwako2488]

Linford Christie = the best European 100m runner in history. I would've loved to be reminded about how Christie dealt with the disappointment of not medalling at the World Championships in 1991 when Dennis Mitchell beat him by 1/100 of a second for bronze (after Mitchell had reacted to the gun in 9/100 of a second: today that would've been a false start, but back then the starter didn't see any "flyver" from Mitchell); and Christie setting his second European record, 9.92 seconds (after the first, 9.97 s, in 1988)...

[@ArmyofLove]

What a wonderful athlete and character. I will always admire that he won medals in the time of Carl Lewis and other great runners who all followed less stringent rules on stimulants. He won Olympic Gold. No buts.

[@ArmyofLove]

@aaron pryor he was a winner. 3 Olympic finals competing for medals is to be respected

[@scotmac5143]

Linford Christie was one of the most important British athletes for years, yet the way the papers would write about him sometimes (The Sun) was a disgrace

[@TheIkaraCult]

I met Linford at Dublin airpot when i was 8 years old. He was the fastet man in the world. Meeting Linford will always be one of the best moments of my life Because i love him

[@ablquality1756]

This Documentary is amazing and it explains his life very well

[@mariaocleirigh6984]

I really appreciate what Linford gave us through his dedication to his sport over the years.

[@Mattdemon08]

A legend Linford Christie!!!

[@shmueloluwa]

I remember training at West London with Polytechnic Harriers. I remember Linford then. He was clearly very fast but I noticed then that his right arm would swing outwards coming off the bend in the 200m. He later sorted that out to great effect. He was always friendly and would be the first to extend a word or gesture of greeting even when he didn’t know you. I followed his achievements with a sense of pride and took personally the unfair treatment he got from the press. Really pleased that the people that count hold him in high regard and that he still holds his head high. Stay solid bro. Much respect.

[@Big-BuzinezzEnt]

Britain doesnt deserve man like linford he should have been legendary for Jamaica.

[@ryrilo5078]

Byron Meikle.. Britain should or more to the point..England should take a gd look at themselves..because it wasn't the first and last time they disrespected Jamaican sport men that represent for this country. Jofra better watch his back (even though he's Bajan).

[@iamneallyons4263]

When i was growing up, Linford was the MAN - when we had races on the playground, everybody wanted to be linford christie. Fair play to him for standing up for himself against the media and the bent police officers.

[@terrencekelly1256]

Interesting documentary,he was a great sportsman too!!

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

Difference between a great athlete and a great man Lewis was a great athlete Christie IS a great Man Bolt is both.

[@RogueCylon]

Matangaro Matangaro Carl Lewis was a cheat, and a loser. History will not be kind.

[@jonathanmichealfacer]

Linford is a true champion. He’s a true gentleman as well. I used to train down at wormwood scrubs, I was in the c-d class group. I had the privilege to watch and see Linford float along so gracefully & fast. But the most important memory apart from watching him on television was when he gave me one of his personal ASICS TIGER BLUE TRACKSUIT, he saw me wearing odd top & bottoms I looked a mess. I still have tracksuit till this day. Thank you Linford for all the wonderful races you ran & medals you won for your country. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👑👑👑👑👑👑👑

[@larey12]

I remember watching that World Champs 100m final and was, literally, shaking with nerves. He was my hero and I knew he could do it so long as he got a good start. He got a great start and smashed his personal best and won convincingly. I'm quite a conservative person but was jumping up and down in glee. The people all around me were looking at me as if I'd lost it. I just didn't care - I was on cloud nine. He's been vilified in the gutter press just so they got a story but the British people know what he's done for this country and have always been behind him. The best sprinter this country has ever had and will ever have.

[@SJ-rp1kf]

Linford never deserved that type of treatment. The greatest British 100m runner.

[@coachhbosoccer]

What this documentary never brought up is it was discovered later that Carl Lewis tested +ve in 1988. I think Carl Lewis was very salty, even when competing you never go personal. Maybe that's how he channelled his motivation

[@herbertmische8660]

Great, fantastic Linford Christie!!! Respect!!!

[@michaelgeoghegan8850]

Linford Christie is an absolute sprinting legend. I wud just love to watch his 6.47 60m and 20.25sec for 200m in Lievan France in 1995 which was a W/R at the time. If anyone knows how to find it so I can just view those races I'd be ever so grateful 😀

[@djangoblack7775]

Michael Geoghegan this man is master

[@user-yw2xx8jv3o]

Linford is a legend and a hero!

[@davidt9238]

A wonderful documentary. I liked watching him in the 1980's and '90's but didn't quite realize what a star he was in Britain at the time.

[@toyedavies]

Thank you so much Linford Christie.

[@abdullahabdullah4588]

Linford is special. To have competed against those incredibly gifted Americans was something else. I think so many were envious. They tried to tarnish his name and maybe to some extent succeeded. But Linford already won the hearts of a nation and fans around the world. Looking back he was quite spectacular as was that era. They all were amazing and that is what made Linfords success all the more special.

[@nicolaablett7790]

Grew up watching him awesome

[@flex1481]

13:22, and yes Carl. You are 1 of them.

[@jamesgreen9611]

Some athletes people in British and world sport that leave you breathless with their incredible ability, in the era before Usain bolt he was one of our supreme athletes, competing against the world, he loved the gamesmanship, to see him live was wonderful, I once saw him and he gave me a wink, a man of the people, that’s the thing about true greats in this country. I always would love to have seen him in a bobsleigh team,boxing ring, NFL or rugby union team.

[@arnoldusrichard3888]

Met him a v humble & lovely kind man x massive respect yrs a

[@timothythomas7445]

Linford and Dayley are the best of UK.

[@michaelbrown984]

THE GREATEST.athlete this country has ever had..did it when it mattered..as for the Carl Lewis what a plum...

[@krishnam2297]

That title goes to Sir Mo Farrah in my opinion. Loved Linford though never got the credit he deserved just like Daley Thompson.

[@SPROCTER1]

I think Daley Thompson is Britain's Greatest, but Christie is Britain's Greatest Sprinter

[@goatlps]

Christie is Jamaican and Farah is Somalian, both by place of birth and parentage.

[@sedekiman824]

Very down -to- earth man. Respect him very much.

[@jfotofili]

Growing up in Australia we were in awe of Linford.

[@vr_gamers8116]

A living Legend , Linford was easily the best and fastest 100m sprinter in his generation.

[@forgive7449]

and he took drugs 😕

[@lw7090]

A Winner...won it all. Remember watchin 92. Fantastic role model

[@mohammedrahim8396]

They tried to destroy his reputation What a load of jealous animals He was a legend and these try to darken his legacy

[@chanimpresario4968]

I remember we used to play some Golden Axe in Micks fish and chip shop and come out to him chillin on his car and walk past with our chips and say "Whats up Linford you ccol?" He was just a next man in the Manor that seem to always have time and humble respect for all.

[@michaeldevaney5728]

A lovely man very modest a really good person

[@trenellrucker4854]

Linford Christie was robbed, I saw a clip of that 1996 Atlanta race and he did not false start that second time whatsoever! He was super quick after the gun went off. This video just proves what I already believed about that race. And I'm an American Citizen!

[@koredenoir8899]

I agree

[@christophersolomon633]

A gentle and very nice man.

[@misscritique84]

That 1988 100 final is still the best sprint final ever. Even though at least 5 was doping

[@dannyboywhaa3146]

Linford was a real man. Stayed a real man and will always be a real man. UK media, athletics and institutions treated him terribly and it was unforgivable. The people of England will always love him - he’s a hero.

[@chunder27]

A man that did it his own way, and inspired a generation. Get in Linford!

[@latbeast]

His sprinting was one thing, his todger was something else

[@julesstillhair]

This is interesting. Just looking back on the history of the Men's 100 Gold metals over the years and where these men all originated from. Christie, Bailey, Bolt ALL were born in Jamaica...ummm!

[@hekikoka5792]

j craig 100m its the national sport, it’s what they invest in. Iranians invest in wrestling hence they produce pedigree wrestlers. Austrians invest in skiing and the result is champion skiers. There’s no supernatural phenomena behind it

[@islandgirlruby2750]

heki koka 100m is not our national sports. It’s our mindset, from the day we are born, we are being told that “We are the best”

[@markcynic808]

Bolt is different. All the others are Jamaican drug cheats.

[@islandgirlruby2750]

Mark Cynic here get some haterade get your thirst quenched

[@markcynic808]

@@islandgirlruby2750 You drink it, you're the imbecile defending drug cheats. Cheats who cast doubt on clean athletes like Bolt and Johnson, cheats who are a disgrace to sport like Lance Armstrong and Ben Johnson. Of the six fastest times in history for the 100m, four are Jamaican. Only Bolt is clean. Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter, all drug cheats. The remaining two are American drug cheats, Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin. Go and cheer them on with pride, chumpy.

[@kingpata7]

Great athlete Jah kno upDeh Lin

[@vanetamorrison2972]

I watched Fern Briton intervening this amazing athletic man on BBC1 today. Don't appreciate him at the time, i must admit. What a body, what a good looking and fantastic sprinter. It was an eye opener. Love you Linford. They build you up then tear you down in this country. Don't blame Prince Harry and yes, he is a Prince, from walking away from this country. Even though he could have done so much good. They are doing the same thing to him and Megan as they subjected him mother to. Just too evil to see it. Not good. More of Fern Briton. She was excellent on this morning. Come on world, stop the hate, stop the jealousy. Just need to support one another and be happy with your lot. Hope Linford C is still smiling all the way to the bank.

[@brunothebruiser]

Six. Fall stars in 1996 finals can’t prove it now, but that was some BS for Christie the all-time favorite.🐅

[@alanjpoole7274]

Brilliant!

[@starchpolpa2985]

so Linford Christie and Ben Johnson are both born Jamaicans so now we can see that Jamaican are one of the fastest country on Earth when it come to track and field

[@t-lawsfitness6044]

That's been known a long time. Countries claim them as their own when they are on top. But when the media is against them, they call them Jamaican faster than you can blink

[@rockhardrockmetalpop]

Still the most amazing 100 metre sprinter when you consider the amount of B.S. he was wrongly accused of and then to never receive any form of overdue apologies?... You´re awesome Linford, and still the greatest in my mind. God Bless ya mate.

[@goatlps]

LOL you really think athletes then, and since, are clean? Obviously never done any training yourself - no one's getting muscles like that without 'roids. He should be thankful his lawyers fixed it for him. He was also pretty defiant when he was even caught doping when he was coaching later - "I don't care what people think." Humans haven't evolved since Jesse Owens' time - anyone going

[@garyroberts3020]

Agree.

[@rockhardrockmetalpop]

@@goatlps Done plenty of training myself thanks for that. I have been coaching sprinters for many years...if you knew Linford as I do, you would never ramble on mate.

[@parisellis5853]

Linford's reaction time in Atlanta was 0.086 seconds. The minimum allowed reaction is 0.100 seconds. Some scientist say than a some people could be capable of reaction times as fasts a s 0.08 sec so I think Linford just had the best start in history.

[@johnnwako2488]

A slight correction: Scientific testing with non-elite people have shown that they reacted in 0.08 of a second. It's idiotic that World Athletics (previously IAAF) hasn't changed the false start rule (reactions faster than 0.10 of a second = false start = disqualification)!

[@yonettethomas6270]

Carl Lewis is so vindictive. No wonder he got found out for his own dishonesty.

[@lcb-]

Of course he is, because if he didn't win GOLD especially GOLD in the blue ribbon event then he would lose millions in sponsorships, endorsements and appearance fees

[@louisjay8934]

Respect to Linford and the Christie family true West London great

[@Ipsvoid333]

Linford Christie is my cousin and it’s actually crazy how it is to have a famous person in ur family

[@jerryx2000]

They got the Canadian Michael Johnson & they got the British Linford Christie, but they never got the US Carl Lewis. I wonder I wonder.

[@a.tanner8524]

Ben Johnson

[@teegee6021]

Legend ....

[@thesilverbulletriflecompan4317]

Legend. Principled. Nice guy :)

[@ryrilo5078]

You know the irony is..Linford's ancestors worked the Plantation that is called Jamaica and Seb Coe's fore-father's got rich from the plantations in Jamaica. Watch "Who Do You Think you Are" the Seb Coe episode. And in the near present day Coe is more or less telling Christie to know his place..obey..be quiet and just run.

[@DiabolicMagicSquare]

Ben Johnson's looks smooth.. excellent technique

[@adangbe]

No Donovan Bailey Documentary?

[@grm3334]

Looks like a top bloke. Would be great to have a beer with 🍻

[@mclife1]

Greatest British sprinter💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@antoniosimpson5687]

He's a Jamaican and Ben Johnson too

[@BreuckelensFinest]

This is old news, where have you been?

[@aDDmoreJuiceTV]

Antonio Simpson ... And Donovan Bailey too.

[@blackgold1980]

And Usain Bolt : -) the Jamaican factor.

[@Brez6645]

and Bob Marley

[@georgestewart7658]

Records are meant to be broken medals stay with you forever wow 👌

[@hiitdon8630]

Great story

[@randyevermore9323]

He comes across here as a rather sweet soul, aside from his incredible talent as an athlete. And we now know, or should know, that the drug-testing protocols are far from infallible. The hell that a completely innocent Bernard Lagat went through in 2003 proved that. It's too bad that Linford didn't have the energy to pursue having his name cleared with the IAAF, but I suppose that would have been expensive to do as a retired athlete. It seems to me that UK Athletics should have pursued that for him, though. They really owe him that much.

[@RogueCylon]

Linford was pure class.