How did you get in to running?
I did track and field from the age of 11. I started at school then school recommended joining an athletics club, which I did. What I love about Athletics is that it’s 10 men in a line and the first man across the line wins. That first person past the post, irrespective of class, race, or otherwise.
How did you go from there to the Olympics?
Race after race I got faster and faster. By the time I was 13 I ran faster than any other 13 year old in the country. There were no barriers to reaching my potential.
At the age of 17, I had qualified for the 1984 Olympics in LA.
What did that feel like?
Wow! Such a unique experience. The whole occasion was unbelievable.
The French are spending a lot of money to make it a special occasion this time around too. It’s powerful to watch.
Does it give you tingles watching others compete in the Olympics?
Everyone loves the competition, but not everyone is capable of the commitment required to do the training. It’s gruelling. To do it you need to give so much, sacrifice so much. All the early starts and late finishes, the repetition, the exhaustion. Having a first hand appreciation of that makes it even more powerful to watch.
Do you think you have a different perspective when watching the Olympics?
We all hear a story from the outside (in the media) but I know the real story from the inside. I remember what it’s like at the Olympic Village – the atmosphere, the mood, the highs and lows.
How did it feel to win your own medals?
Made the final of the 200m at the 1984 Olympics.
Then won the Bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 1990, held in New Zealand.
Then won the Gold at the World Championship 400m Relay in 1991, with team mates Chris Akabusi, Roger Black, John Regis, Derek Redmond.
Where do you keep your medals?
They’re all framed beautifully at home, in pride of place.
What was the highlight for you?
Aside from the feeling of the win, the travelling! One thing I look back on and relish was the opportunities I was given to travel and see the world. I visited Australia twice, New Zealand twice, have travelled all around Europe, the Americas, and Africa. All made possible because of my sport.
What made you retire in 1992?
I did an interview for the BBC after the race and I was all fired up to go again, but then life happened. It was time to move on to new experiences.
I had devoted myself to track and field from 11 to 27 years old, and it was time for something new. I became a personal trainer in central London for 3 years, on the road visiting clients, when one day I was approached by Chelsea Football Club who asked me to join them as a fitness coach for their players. I was employed by CFC in 1996 as a fitness coach, where I stayed for 10 years, followed by another 7 years in other football clubs.
I care for my mum now so was looking for something more part time, and Audley suited me perfectly.
Do you have any regrets?
The difference between winning and losing a gold medal is a hair, a fraction of a second.
I competed in the UK trials for the Olympic games in Seoul in 1988, only the top two made it through. I just came in third and I was devastated. I was so close. And that’s how it goes – it can be all here one day but gone the next.
I wish I could have taken it further, but now I am content with the experiences I had. I’ve tasted the Olympic games and running as a professional. So many people don’t get that opportunity. I feel privileged to have had those experiences.
Is it possible to have it all?
If you can have it all and keep that drive, then great, but often it’s one or the other. I fell ill and ended up 3 years behind, so at age 27 I decided it’s time to stop. I settled down and have enjoyed a wonderful life. There’s no guarantees in sport. There’s always someone hot on your heels and at some point your body can’t keep up the pace, even when your mind and heart are still in it.
What advice do you give to anyone starting out in sport?
If you’re God-blessed with a talent and you use it, anything is possible. Olympians have taken it to the nth degree to become the best in the world.
I remember when I finished last in a final in 1984. Carl Lewis won and he said to me “No, you didn’t finish last, you finished 8th in the world!”
It’s great to have you here at Audley Fairmile. What do you love about working here at Audley?
The people. My motto is to be healthy and active (and in my younger years I didn’t stop moving) but I also say if you have something better to do, go do it. Live your life.
I enjoy a slower pace of life now. Very relaxed. Here at Audley they are all really good people – the staff and the homeowners. It’s a lovely place to work – I’ve been here since February and I’m learning a lot working with individuals.
Who was your role model back in 1984 and is it someone different now?
Alberto Juantorena from Cuba used to run the 400m and 800m. I remember watching him in the Montreal Olympics in 1976, a child jumping up and down with excitement.
Now, I would say Novak Djokovich because he’s kept it going for so long. He’s not playing for financial benefit, it’s his drive and determination that keeps him playing. That’s something I really admire.
Another is Usain Bolt – his talent is incredible. We’ll possibly never see another Bolt again. What I find fascinating is how everyone competing with him needed to immediately realign their goals and aim for 2nd place, because no-one could get near him.
They’re all incredible athletes. Even someone as naturally gifted as Simone Biles – she has the natural physiology but then the dedication to perfect it. I have so much admiration for them all, and I remember first hand how it felt to be there.
What’s your favourite Olympic sport to watch?
Triathlon. I can’t swim well so this is an unbelievable feat in my eyes. I am a sports fan and a competition buff whatever the sport.
I love athletics and all of the sports at the Olympics, I can relate to the sacrifice. It’s the out of hours training and the commitment behind the sportsperson that I admire most.
What’s your favourite exercise class here at Audley Fairmile?
Do you know, I’d probably say SitFit, because I enjoy working with people when I can really see a difference. They’re not held back by anything.
Any final words?
“I am reflective. Thankful for the experiences I’ve been given. I’m not one to brag and boast, but if anyone asks me, I am incredibly proud of my achievements. I believe in closing a chapter in the book and feeling lucky to have the book.”
