Colin Jackson A true British champion! Author: Berit Anspal

The Welsh athlete is......a famous British sportsman and the winner of Olympic and World championships medals....a former sprinter who was born 18 February, 1967 in Cardiff...also a former hurdling athlete who now works as a sport commentator

Catching the Bug Colin Jackson has always been a good general sportsman. He has played football and cricet for the county and rugby and basketball for his school. However it was athletics that came most naturally to him. He himself has said that: “I didn't seem to need to work as much at it compared with other sports. “ He had everything that needed to take him to performe at the highest level- an excellent talent, hardworking personality, close friend Malcolm Arnold as a coach and the love for the track and field.

The Career and Achievements The most be-medalled British athlete first started out as a promising decathlete before switching to high hurdles. As a hurdler he had to do a lot of hurdling, which seemed to take an age and there was lots of bruising also. Colin Jackson has been twice crowned World Champion, twice Commonwealth Champion and four times European Champion. At the 1988 Olympic Games he won the 110m hurdles silver, wich has remained his only Olympic medal of any colour.

He set his World Record for the 110 meters hurdles on the 20 August 1993, winning his first World Championships gold medal in Stuttgart, Germany in 12.91s. It was stand for nearly thirteen years. However, Jackson remains sole holder of the indoor world record at the 60 metre hurdles with a time of 7.30 seconds. His most extraordinary performance was when he became double European 60m champion by winning the 60m flat race as well.

Colin Jackson was a master of the "dip" - the skill of leaning forward at the end of a race to advance the position of the shoulders and improve times (and potentially positions). He was also renowned for being a particularly fast starter, which led to a great deal of success in 60m events.

Colin Jackson about London 2012 Olympic Games A former World Champion is quite optimistic about present British athletics, because some of the young guys seem to be very hungry for success. The best hopes for a gold medal in London in his opinion are huge prospect long jumper Greg Rutherford and a heptathlete Jessica Ennis, who stands out as somebody special.

Looking back Colin Jackson considers his career as a hurdler very fulfilling which lets people remember him for what he was and what he achieved. He has said: “I would never have had the opportunity in any other line of work, so I'm really appreciative of that. “ As a sportsman he shares his one priority what should be the first thing for any young athlete coming through- enjoyment, enjoyment, enjoyment.

Colin Jackson is no ordinary man... The Cardiff-born hurdler has achieved enough in his career to be considered a legend. He is also been appointed a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

The End Thank You for watching!