Editing Linford Christie

{{short description|Jamaican-born British sprinter (born 1960)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|OBE}}
| headercolor = 
| image = Linford Christie 2009.png
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Christie in 2009
| birth_name = 
| fullname = 
| nickname = 
| nationality = British
| residence = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|4|2}}
| birth_place = [[Saint Andrew, Jamaica]]
| height = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Linford Christie|url=http://www.teamgb.com/athletes/linford-christie|work=teamgb.com|publisher=[[British Olympic Association]]|access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref>
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| coach = 
| retired = 
| coaching = 
| worlds = 
| regionals = 
| nationals = 
| olympics = 
| paralympics = 
| highestranking = 
| pb = 
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's athletics}}
{{Medal|Country | {{GBR2}} }}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalCount
|[[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]|1|2|0
|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]|1|1|2
|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]|0|2|0
|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]|3|1|2
|[[European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]|3|0|1
|[[Commonwealth Games]]|3|2|0
|'''Total'''|'''11'''|'''8'''|'''5'''
}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[Athletics at the Olympic Games|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]]|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver| [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver| [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]] | [[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]] | [[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1991 Seville]]|60 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1991 Seville]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 European Championships in Athletics|1986 Stuttgart]]|[[1986 European Championships in Athletics - Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1990 European Championships in Athletics|1990 Split]]|[[1990 European Championships in Athletics - Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1994 European Championships in Athletics|1994 Helsinki]]|100 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1990 European Championships in Athletics|1990 Split]]| [[1990 European Athletics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1990 European Championships in Athletics|1990 Split]]|[[1990 European Athletics Championships – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1986 European Championships in Athletics|1986 Stuttgart]]|4 × 100 m relay}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 European Athletics Indoor Championships|1986 Madrid]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1988 European Athletics Indoor Championships|1988 Budapest]]|60 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1990 European Athletics Indoor Championships|1990 Glasgow]]|60 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1988 European Athletics Indoor Championships|1988 Budapest]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Country | {{ENG}} }}
{{Medal|Comp|[[Athletics at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1994 Commonwealth Games|1994 Victoria]]|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
| show-medals = 
| updated = 20 July 2012
}}

'''Linford Christie''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (born 2 April 1960) is a Jamaican-born British former [[Sprint (running)|sprinter]] and athletics coach. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the [[100 metres]] at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the [[Olympic Games]], the [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]], the [[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]] and the [[Commonwealth Games]]. He was the first European athlete to break the [[10-second barrier]] in the 100&nbsp;m and held the [[UK records in athletics|British record]] in the event for close to 30 years. He is a former [[world indoor record]] holder over [[200 metres]], and a former [[List of European records in athletics|European record]] holder in the [[60 metres]], 100 m and [[4 × 100 metres relay]].

He remains one of the most highly decorated British athletes of all-time. By the end of his track career Christie had won 24 medals overall, more than any other British male athlete before or since. In 1993 he was awarded the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award|BBC Sports Personality of the Year]].

Christie tested positive for a banned stimulant in 1988 during the [[Seoul Olympics]]. In 1999 he was suspended for two years by the IAAF after the banned substance [[nandrolone]] was found in a test, although he had been effectively in retirement since 1997.

As a coach, two of his charges, [[Darren Campbell]] and [[Katharine Merry]], went on to win Olympic and World medals.

==Early life and education==
Christie was born on 2 April 1960 in [[Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica|Saint Andrew, Jamaica]], where he was brought up by his maternal grandmother. At the age of seven he joined his parents, who had emigrated to [[Acton, London]], England, five years before. He was educated at [[Fulham College Boys' School|Henry Compton Secondary School]] in [[Fulham]], London and excelled in [[physical education]]. He competed in the very first [[London Youth Games]] in 1977 for the borough of [[Hammersmith & Fulham]].<ref>[http://www.londonyouthgames.org/page.asp?section=23&sectionTitle=Hall+of+Fame Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916105727/http://www.londonyouthgames.org/page.asp?section=23&sectionTitle=Hall+of+Fame |date=16 September 2018 }} Retrieved on 2013-02-19.</ref> He also joined the [[Air Training Corps]] in 1978, 336 (Hammersmith) Squadron. He did not take up athletics seriously until he was 18.

==Professional athletics career==
Christie's early track career was not particularly promising. A comparatively slow starter, he failed to make the Great Britain team for the [[1984 Summer Olympics]], not even being included in the sprint relay squad. It was not until some years after he had begun to work in earnest on his running technique under the coaching guidance of [[Ron Roddan]] in 1979 that he fulfilled his potential.

In 1986, he was the surprise winner of the 100&nbsp;m at the [[1986 European Championships in Athletics#Track|European Championships]] and finished second in the same event at the [[Commonwealth Games]] in Edinburgh, behind [[Ben Johnson (Canadian sprinter)|Ben Johnson]]. At the [[1987 World Championships in Athletics]] in Rome, Christie came fourth in the 100&nbsp;m, but was later awarded the bronze medal, when winner Johnson was disqualified after admitting years of [[doping in sport|steroid use]].

At the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] in [[Seoul]], Christie won the 100&nbsp;m silver behind [[Carl Lewis]] after Johnson, who set a world record in 9.79&nbsp;seconds, was again disqualified following a positive drug test. Christie's time was 9.97 seconds, a new European record by 0.03 seconds and this was only the third time that an athlete had broken the ten second barrier in the 100 metres without winning the race.

In 1992, Christie became the third British athlete to win the Olympic 100&nbsp;m, after [[Harold Abrahams]] and [[Allan Wells]], winning the title ahead of [[Frankie Fredericks]] of [[Namibia]] at the [[Barcelona Olympic Games]]. In the absence of his great rival Lewis, Christie ran 9.96&nbsp;s in the final, and at the age of 32 years 121 days became the oldest Olympic 100&nbsp;m champion by four years and 38 days.

In 1993, he became the first man in history to hold the Olympic, World, [[1990 European Championships in Athletics#Track|European]] and Commonwealth titles in the 100 m as he was victorious at the [[1993 World Championships in Athletics|Stuttgart World Championships]] in his fastest ever time of 9.87.<ref name="Athlete Profile">{{cite web|url= http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=41565|title=Power of 10: Linford Christie|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref> The time stood as the British record until 2023. His achievement saw him being voted [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] by the British public that year.

The following year, in 1994, he defended his [[1994 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth]] title in [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] in his second fastest ever 100 m time of 9.91.<ref name="Athlete Profile" />

Defending his [[1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic title in 1996]], Christie was disqualified in the final after two false starts. He said: "The first one I knew I did, but on the second one I felt I reacted perfectly to the gun. I have never been disqualified from a race before in my life. What a place to do it."<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/christie-self-destructs-in-defence-of-his-title-1330976.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/christie-self-destructs-in-defence-of-his-title-1330976.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Christie self-destructs in defence of his title| website=[[Independent.co.uk]]| date=29 July 1996}}</ref> His reaction time was 0.086 seconds. Under IAAF rules, sprinters are not allowed to start from their blocks faster than 0.1 seconds.

Christie retired from representative international competition in 1997,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/412020.stm Christie: Legend under fire] [[BBC Sport]] (4 August 1999) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref> although he continued to make appearances at invitation meetings.

===Doping allegations and ban===
==== Early allegations ====
Christie faced an [[International Olympic Committee]] disciplinary hearing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics because of an adverse drug test for the banned stimulant [[pseudoephedrine]] after he ran in the heats of the 200 m. He escaped sanction after the committee voted by a margin of 11 to 10 and gave Christie "the benefit of the doubt."<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/and-what-inquired-mlud-is-linfords-lunch-box-1165856.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/and-what-inquired-mlud-is-linfords-lunch-box-1165856.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title = And what, inquired M'Lud, is Linford's lunch box?|website = [[Independent.co.uk]]|date = 19 June 1998}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/1033514.stm Christie takes the stand] [[BBC Sport]] (21 November 2000) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref> Christie argued that he had taken it inadvertently when drinking some [[ginseng tea]].

At the 1994 European championships staged in [[Helsinki]], where British team captain Christie won his third European 100 m title, he was caught up in a doping controversy after [[Solomon Wariso]], a [[400 metres|400 m]] runner making his international championship debut, tested positive for the stimulant ephedrine. Wariso revealed that he had used an over-the-counter pick-you-up called "Up Your Gas", which Christie had bought at a Florida pharmacy.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/4768790/Shadow-over-Christies-reputation.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Shadow over Christie's reputation | first=Tom | last=Knight | date=22 August 2000 | access-date=7 May 2010}}</ref>

In 1998, less than six months before his first positive drug test, Christie won a [[libel]] action against the journalist [[John McVicar]]. McVicar had insinuated in a satirical magazine that Christie's remarkable rise from 156th in the world to triumph at an age when he should have been in decline could only have been achieved through performance-enhancing drugs. The jury found in Christie's favour by a 10–2 majority. The judge ordered that McVicar should be bound by an injunction restraining him from accusing Christie of taking banned substances. The modest £40,000 damages awarded were outweighed by the legal costs that Christie incurred to bring the case. After the judgment, McVicar called Christie "The [[Judy Garland]] of the 100 metres", referring to the emotion that Christie had displayed before the court.<ref>Thackray, Rachelle (28 June 1998). [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980628/ai_n14154422 What the papers said] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221115244/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980628/ai_n14154422 |date=21 December 2007 }} ''[[The Independent]]''; Retrieved on 2009-01-20.</ref>

==== Positive drugs test and ban from athletics ====
In February 1999, Christie competed in an indoor meet in [[Dortmund]], Germany. A routine in competition drug test found the banned substance [[nandrolone]]. After a six-month delay, a disciplinary hearing was convened by the [[UK Athletics|British Athletic Federation]] which found Christie to be not guilty. But the [[IAAF]] overruled and confirmed a two-year suspension. He was found to have more than 100 times threshold levels of the metabolites of nandrolone in his urine. Various explanations were offered to explain the result.<ref>Professor Ron Maughan, [[University of Aberdeen]]. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15467106 Contamination of supplements: an interview with professor Ron Maughan by Louise M. Burke] [[PubMed]] Retrieved 2009-01-20</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/drugs_in_sport/863386.stm Moorcroft backs medical research] [[BBC Sport]] (2 August 2000) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tseng |first1=Y. L. |last2=Kuo |first2=F. H. |last3=Sun |first3=K. H. |year=2005 |title=Quantification and profiling of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone in human urine after consumption of a nutritional supplement and norsteroids |journal=Journal of Analytical Toxicology |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=124–134 |doi= 10.1093/jat/29.2.124|pmid=15902981 |doi-access=free }}</ref> "You think that's an awful lot," says Professor Ron Maughan one of the UK Athletics anti-doping panellists who worked on Christie's case, "but the amounts are so small, they would have absolutely no physiological effect, but they would trigger a doping test.".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/c035805y52mo] [[BBC Sport]] (20 July 2024)</ref> The [[International Amateur Athletic Federation|IAAF]] rejected the explanations and gave Christie a two-years ban from athletics, despite [[UK Athletics]] feeling that there was reasonable doubt whether the drug had been taken deliberately, a decision which ignored the usual drug testing principle of "strict liability".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/889694.stm British trio rocked by doping bans] [[BBC Sport]] (21 August 2000) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref>

Several alternative theories have been proposed that might explain Christie's positive test. [[Nandrolone]] is a long-acting [[anabolic steroid]], and is well-known in athlete circles to be detectable in blood and urine screenings for long periods; ranging from 6 to 18 months.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ayotte |first1=C. |title=Significance of 19-norandrosterone in athletes' urine samples |year=2006 |volume=40 |issue=Suppl 1 |pages=i25–i29 |journal=British Journal of Sports Medicine |doi=10.1136/bjsm.2006.028027 |pmid=16799098 |pmc=2657496 }}</ref> Sceptics of Christie's positive, and other [[Nandrolone]] sanctions in the late 1990s, have cited this detection window as a major deterrent to using the drug at any point during training or competition periods. Around this time [[Androgen prohormone|pro-hormones]] like [[Bolandione|19-norandrostenedione]], [[Androstenedione]], and [[1-Testosterone]], among others, abounded in the American supplement market, and were not yet codified as '[[anabolic agents]]' under the [[Controlled Substances Act|Federal Controlled Substances Act]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=G.A. |last2=Vukovich |first2=M. |last3=King |first3=D.S. |title=Testosterone prohormone supplements |journal=Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise |year=2006 |volume=38 |issue=8 |pages=1451–61 |publisher=Medical Science of Sport and Exercise |doi=10.1249/01.mss.0000228928.69512.2e |pmid=16888459 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Christie has always denied any wrongdoing. "If I took drugs there had to be a reason to take drugs. I had pretty much retired from the sport." Furthermore, he denied that his physique was gained through drug use and promoted an anti-steroid approach: "It does not follow that all athletes who are big take drugs ... Only by testing all athletes will the sport be kept clean of drugs."<ref name="autogenerated1" />

==== Fallout following positive drugs test ====
Following his positive drugs test and ban from athletics, Christie was banned for life from the [[British Olympic Association]], who announced that Christie would not be accredited for any future Olympic Games, in accordance with their regulations.

==Retirement==
Following the two-year ban, Christie worked as a presenter on the BBC programmes ''[[Record Breakers]]'' and ''Garden Invaders'', and also had a contract with BBC Sport. He has spent less time as a public figure and has devoted most of his time to managing his company.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0267215/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast Record Breakers at IMDB]</ref> In 1990 he made his acting debut in the [[BBC]] programme ''[[Grange Hill]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0834284/ Grange Hill at IMDB]</ref> Later he appeared in another [[BBC]] programme ''[[Hustle (TV series)|Hustle]]''. In 2010, Christie appeared on the UK [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] television channel's ''[[I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!]]'' show, subsequently becoming the sixth person to be eliminated, on 30 November 2010.

During the McVicar case, Christie raised another of his grievances with the media – insinuating comments about the figure-hugging running suits that Christie wore in his races. The term ''Linford's lunchbox'' had been coined by ''The Sun'' newspaper in reference to the noticeable bulge of Christie's genitalia in his [[Lycra]] shorts. He said "''Linford's lunchbox'' is one of my grievances with the media. I don't like it ... Nobody ever goes on about [[Sally Gunnell]]'s breasts ... I think it is disgusting, I don't like it at all."<ref name="autogenerated2">L. Christie & T. Ward, ''Linford Christie: An Autobiography'' (1990, updated 1996 as ''To Be Honest With You'')</ref> In court, the judge [[Oliver Popplewell|Mr Justice Popplewell]], amused some by tactlessly asking Christie to explain the phrase, asking "What is 'Linford's lunchbox?'"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1998/06/19/nlin19.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Peter |last=Oborne |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221071019/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F1998%2F06%2F19%2Fnlin19.html|title=Laughter as judge asks, what is Linford's lunchbox?|archive-date=21 December 2007 }}</ref>
Christie's anger at this unwanted attention led to his infamous "newspaper print" running suit, although he has deliberately drawn attention to his body on occasions: he has remarked that "A lot of people have looked at my physique and two things can come into their mind – admiration and envy."<ref name="autogenerated1">L. Christie & J. Nicholson, ''A Year in the Life of Linford Christie'' (1996)</ref> He also appeared shirtless and flexing his muscles on the BBC youth series ''Reportage'' in 1988. In recent years, however, Christie appears to have come to terms with the 'lunchbox' label, disclosing his preference for briefs rather than boxer shorts, and in 2002 becoming the "face" of [[Sloggi]], the men's underwear brand, posing for advertising wearing only underwear.<ref>[http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/archive/2002/06/12/Wiltshire+Archive/7348070.Showing_his_undies_is_no_hard_Sloggi_for_Linford/ Showing his undies is no hard Sloggi for Linford]. ''Swindon Advertiser'' (12 June 2002) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref><ref>Brooke, Simon (30 January 2003) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110615185555/http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article857937.ece Real men wear thongs] ''[[The Times]]''; Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref>

In the successful British bid for the [[2012 Olympic Games]], Christie was absent from the team, even though he has stated that he attempted to get involved. Christie has cited an ongoing feud between himself and former teammate [[Sebastian Coe]], who led the bid committee, as a likely reason for the snub.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4341074.stm Christie hits out at Olympic snub] [[BBC Sport]] (14 October 2005) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/1809821.stm Coe and Christie clash again] [[BBC Sport]] (8 February 2002) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/5149910.stm Campbell wants Christie call-up] [[BBC Sport]] (5 July 2006) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref> Commenting on the argument, Christie's teammate, [[Derek Redmond]], said he was "a well-balanced athlete; he has a chip on both shoulders."<ref name=Faces>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4784003.stm Faces of the week] [[BBC Sport]] (11 August 2006) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref>

However, in April 2006, it was announced that Christie would be a senior mentor for athletes on the national team, along with former athletes [[Steve Backley]], [[Daley Thompson]] and [[Katharine Merry]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4910440.stm British legends get mentor roles] [[BBC Sport]] (4 August 2006) Retrieved on 2008-01-20</ref> This proved controversial, however, due to Christie's 2 year drugs ban in February 1997. "I don't think he should be in that mentor role," said [[Paula Radcliffe]], the former women's [[marathon]] world record-holder. "We have to make sure that the people in that mentor role have an integrity and strong sense of ethics and morals."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4788157.stm Radcliffe attacks Christie role] [[BBC Sport]] (13 August 2006) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref>

The [[British Olympic Association|BOA]] confirmed that their ban on Olympic accreditation for Christie remained in place.<ref name=Faces/> Christie claimed that he was invited by London Mayor [[Ken Livingstone]] to be one of the carriers of the 2008 [[Olympic Torch]] on its journey through London, although Livingstone denied that he had invited Christie to undertake that role.<ref name=":0">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7256961.stm Christie will not be torch bearer] [[BBC Sport]] (22 February 2008) Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref> The IOC reacted angrily to any suggestion that "an athlete who has an Olympic ban" could have been invited to carry the Olympic torch.<ref name=":0" />

In 2011, Christie was convicted of careless driving, after his vehicle crashed head-on into a taxi on 8 May 2010 due to driving on the wrong side of the [[A413 road]] in [[Chalfont St Peter]], [[Buckinghamshire]].<ref name="g21jul2011">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/21/linford-christie-banned-driving-crash|title=Linford Christie banned from driving after wrong-way crash|author=Matthew Taylor|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=21 July 2011|access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> Four people, including a newly-wed couple, were hurt.<ref name="g21jul2011"/>

In November 2023, he appeared in ''[[The Masked Singer (British TV series)#The Masked Singer: I'm a Celebrity Special|The Masked Singer: I'm a Celebrity Special]]'' as Huntsman. He was voted off first.

A documentary film about his life, titled ''Linford'', premiered on [[BBC One]] in July 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/major-new-documentary-exclusive-access-olympic-athlete-linford-christie|title=BBC announces major new documentary with exclusive access to Olympic athlete Linford Christie|publisher=BBC|accessdate=16 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/new-documentary-on-linford-christie-out-on-bbc-this-summer-1039988303/|title=New documentary on Linford Christie out on BBC this summer|date=6 June 2024 |publisher=Athletics Weekly|accessdate=16 July 2024}}</ref>

==Achievements and legacy==
Reflecting upon his track career, he stated: "I will have no complaints if people remember me as one of the best athletes in the world."<ref name="autogenerated2" /> He was the British record-holder for nearly 30 years at 100&nbsp;m, with the 9.87&nbsp;s he ran at the 1993 World Championships.<ref name=UKA>[http://www.ukathletics.net/supporters/hall-of-fame-athletes/linford-christie/ Linford Christie – Hall of Fame Athletes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121104325/http://www.ukathletics.net/supporters/hall-of-fame-athletes/linford-christie/ |date=21 November 2008 }} [[UK Athletics]]; Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref> He was the third Briton, after [[Harold Abrahams]] and [[Allan Wells]], and the fifth European to win the 100&nbsp;m at the Olympic Games, and the last to do so until 2021, when Italian [[Marcell Jacobs]] took the Olympic title in Tokyo in the delayed [[2020 Summer Olympics]]. He remains the oldest male athlete to win the 100&nbsp;metres at the Olympics at the age of 32.<ref name=UKA/>

As of 2019, Christie's [[British records in athletics|British record]] of 9.87&nbsp;seconds in the 100&nbsp;metres makes him the third fastest European in history; after [[Francis Obikwelu]]'s 9.86&nbsp;s personal best which broke Christie's [[European record progression 100 metres men|European record]], and the same time achieved by French sprinter [[Jimmy Vicaut]].<ref name=Top100>{{cite web |title=100&nbsp;Metres All Time |publisher=[[IAAF]] |date=20 January 2009 |url=http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=O/age=N/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=100/detail.htmx |access-date=20 January 2009}}</ref> His 100&nbsp;m personal best fares favourably in comparison with his contemporaries: [[Carl Lewis]] and [[Frankie Fredericks]] managed 9.86 s while [[Leroy Burrell]] ran 9.85 s.<ref name=Top100/> Christie broke the ten-second barrier nine times, and was the first European to break the ten-second barrier. In the 1988 100 metres Olympic final, he became the first man to break the ten-second barrier and not win the race. In the 1991 World Championships 100 m final, he became the first man to break the ten-second barrier and come fourth, running 9.92 seconds.

In the 4 × 100 m relay event Christie's performance as [[Relay race|anchor]], alongside [[Colin Jackson]], [[Tony Jarrett]] and [[John Regis (athlete)|John Regis]], set a European record of 37.77&nbsp;s at the [[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 World Championships]]. This was beaten six years later by a 37.73&nbsp;s run by a British team, which included his protégé [[Darren Campbell]].<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/mg99.htm United Kingdom all-time lists men] gbrathletics; Retrieved 2008-01-20</ref> However, Christie's team's performance is still the second fastest 4 × 100&nbsp;m performance by a European team and one of the best by a non-United States relay team.<ref name=4x100>[http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=O/age=N/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=4X1/detail.html 4x100 Metres Relay All Time] [[IAAF]] Retrieved on 2008-01-20</ref>

Over 60 m, Christie set a European record of 6.47&nbsp;s in 1995 which was beaten by fellow Briton [[Jason Gardener]] in 1999 with 6.46&nbsp;s. Christie has the fourth fastest time over the distance for a European after Gardener, [[Ronald Pognon]]<ref name="60List">[http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=i/age=n/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=60/detail.html 60 Metres All Time] [[IAAF]]; Retrieved on 2019-07-01</ref> and the current European record holder [[Dwain Chambers]].

Christie also holds 3 current 35–39 [[Masters Athletics World Records|masters age group world records]]. On 23 September 1995, Christie set a M35 world record of 9.97 in the 100 m which no longer stands. On 25 June 1995 he set the current M35 world record in the 200 m in 20.11 seconds and on 3 January 1997 Christie set the current indoor record in the M35 60 m in a time of 6.51 seconds.

Christie broke the world indoor record over 200 m with 20.25&nbsp;s at [[Liévin]] in 1995, and remains the seventh fastest sprinter on the all-time list.<ref>[http://iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=i/age=n/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=200/detail.html 200 Metres All Time] [[IAAF]] Retrieved on 2019-07-01</ref>
[[Image:B of the Bang (landscape).jpg|thumb|[[B of the Bang]]: a sculpture named after a Christie quotation]]

He was appointed [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in 1990 and [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in 1998.<ref name=UKA/> In 1993, the West London Stadium, where he spent much time training, was renamed the [[Linford Christie Stadium]] in his honour. Christie's claim that he started races on the "B of the Bang" inspired a large public sculpture [[B of the Bang|of the same name]]. Erected as a celebration of the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] in Manchester, it was officially unveiled by Christie in 2004. Owing to safety concerns, it was dismantled in 2009. In 2010, he was inducted into the [[England Athletics Hall of Fame]], and in 2009, he was inducted into the [[London Youth Games Hall of Fame]].

==Statistics==
===Personal bests===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Event
!Time (seconds)
!Date
!Venue
!Notes
|-
|[[60 metres]]
|6.47
|19 February 1995
|[[Liévin]], France
|
|-
|[[100 metres]]
|9.87
|15 August 1993
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
|{{AthAbbr|NR|British}}<ref name=UKrecord>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/gbnatrec.htm United Kingdom national records and best performances]; gbrathletics; Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref>
|-
|[[150 metres]]
|14.97<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/cm99.htm Commonwealth All-time lists]; gbrathletics; Retrieved on 2009-01-20</ref>
|4 September 1994
|[[Sheffield]], United Kingdom
|
|-
|[[200 metres]]
|20.09
|28 September 1988
|[[Seoul]], South Korea
|
|-
|[[300 metres]]
|33.80
|21 June 1988
|[[Oslo]], Norway
|
|-
|[[400 metres]]
|47.75
|1991
|?
|
|-
|[[Long jump]]
|6.67 m
|21 August 1996
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|
|}
*<small>All information taken from [[IAAF]] and [[UK Athletics]] profiles.</small><ref name=UKA/><ref name=IAAF>[https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/linford-christie-496 Christie Linford Biography]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>

===Seasonal bests===
{{Graph:Chart
 | width = 400
 | height = 200
 | type = line
 | xAxisTitle = Year
 | yAxisTitle = Seconds
 | yAxisMax = 9.8
 | yAxisMin = 10.5
 | showValues = true
 | showSymbols=true
 | legend = Event
 | y1Title = 100 metres
 | x = 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
 | y1 = 10.46,10.44,10.42,10.04,10.03,9.97,10.10,10.02,9.92,9.96,9.87,9.91,9.97,10.03,10.04,10.38
}}
{{Graph:Chart
 | width = 400
 | height = 200
 | type = line
 | xAxisTitle = Year
 | yAxisTitle = Seconds
 | yAxisMax = 20
 | yAxisMin = 20.7
 | showValues = true
 | showSymbols=true
 | legend = Event
 | y1Title = 200 metres
 | x =1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997
 | y1 = 20.51, 20.48, 20.09, 20.51, 20.33, 20.43, 20.25, 20.39, 20.11, 20.29, 20.56
}}
{{Graph:Chart
 | width = 400
 | height = 200
 | type = line
 | xAxisTitle = Year
 | yAxisTitle = Seconds
 | yAxisMax = 6.4
 | yAxisMin = 6.7
 | showValues = true
 | showSymbols=true
 | legend = Event
 | y1Title = 60 metres indoor
 | x =1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
 | y1 = 6.55,6.52,6.51,6.55,6.55,6.48,6.47,6.59,6.51,6.57
}}
*<small>All information taken from [[IAAF]] and [[UK Athletics]] profiles.</small><ref name=UKA/><ref name="IAAF" />

===International competitions===
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Result=yes|NotesOff=yes}}
|-
|1985
|[[1985 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
|2nd (h1)
|[[1985 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|21.50
|-
|rowspan=6|1986
|[[1986 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
|[[Madrid]], Spain
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1986 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|21.10
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Edinburgh]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|10.28
|-
| —
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|{{AthAbbr|DNS}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1986 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1986 European Athletics Championships – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|10.15
|-
|5th (sf2)
|[[1986 European Athletics Championships – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.69
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|[[1986 European Athletics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|38.71
|-
|rowspan=4|1987
|rowspan=2|[[1987 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Prague]], Czechoslovakia
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.23
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m
|20.63
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Rome]], Italy
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|10.14
|-
| —
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|{{AthAbbr|DNS}}
|-
|rowspan=5|1988
|rowspan=2|[[1988 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Budapest]], Hungary
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1988 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 60 metres|60 m]]
|6.57
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|[[1988 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.83
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Seoul]], South Korea
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|9.97 {{AthAbbr|AR|European}}
|-
|4th
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.09 {{AthAbbr|NR|British}}
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|38.28
|-
|rowspan=4|1989
|rowspan=2|[[1989 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Gateshead]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.33
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 100 m relay
|38.39
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1989 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Barcelona]], Spain
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1989 IAAF World Cup – Results|100 m]]
|10.10
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1989 IAAF World Cup – Results|4 × 100 m relay]]
|38.34
|-
|rowspan=6|1990
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Auckland]], New Zealand
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|9.93
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|38.67
|-
|[[1990 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
|[[Glasgow]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1990 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 60 metres|60 m]]
|6.56
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1990 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Split, Croatia|Split]], Yugoslavia
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1990 European Athletics Championships – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|10.00
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|[[1990 European Athletics Championships – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.33
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1990 European Athletics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|37.98 {{AthAbbr|NR|British}}
|-
|rowspan=6|1991
|rowspan=2|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Seville]], Spain
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 60 metres|60 m]]
|6.55
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.72
|-
|[[1991 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[Frankfurt]], Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.18
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Tokyo]], Japan
|4th
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|9.92 {{AthAbbr|AR|European}}
|-
|6th (sf1)
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.62
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|38.09
|-
|rowspan=5|1992
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Barcelona]], Spain
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|9.96
|-
|5th (sf1)
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.38
|-
|4th
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|38.08
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1992 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Havana]], Cuba
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1992 IAAF World Cup – Results|100 m]]
|10.21
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1992 IAAF World Cup – Results|200 m]]
|20.72
|-
|rowspan=5|1993
|rowspan=2|[[1993 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Rome]], Italy
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.22
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 100 m relay
|38.53
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|9.87 {{AthAbbr|NR|European}}
|-
| —
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|{{AthAbbr|DNS}}
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|37.77 {{AthAbbr|NR|European}}
|-
|rowspan=8|1994
|rowspan=3|[[1994 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|rowspan=3|[[Birmingham]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.21
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m
|20.67
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 100 m relay
|38.72
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1994 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1994 European Athletics Championships – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|10.14
|-
| —
|[[1994 European Athletics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]
|{{AthAbbr|DNF}}
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], Canada
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|9.91 {{AthAbbr|GR|Commonwealth Games}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1994 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1994 IAAF World Cup – Results|100 m]]
|10.21
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1994 IAAF World Cup – Results|4 × 100 m relay]]
|38.46
|-
|rowspan=4|1995
|rowspan=3|[[1995 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|rowspan=3|[[Villeneuve-d'Ascq]], France
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.05 {{AthAbbr|CR}}
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m
|20.11 {{AthAbbr|CR}}
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 100 m relay
|38.73
|-
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg]], Sweden
|6th
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|10.12
|-
|rowspan=5|1996
|rowspan=3|[[1996 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|rowspan=3|[[Madrid]], Spain
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.04 {{AthAbbr|CR}}
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m
|20.25 {{AthAbbr|w}}
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|4 × 100 m relay
|38.67
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Atlanta]], United States
| —
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]
|{{AthAbbr|DQ}}
|-
|4th (qf5)
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]
|20.59
|-
|rowspan=2|1997
|rowspan=2|[[1997 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Munich]], Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|100 m
|10.04 {{AthAbbr|CR=}}
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m
|20.56
|}
*<small>All information taken from [[IAAF]] and [[UK Athletics]] profiles.</small><ref name=UKA/><ref name="IAAF" />

===National titles===
Christie competed during the era of dual national championships, whereby the winner at the nominally open AAA Championships was often recognised as the national champion, but a separate UK only event, the UK Athletics Championships, was also held, crowning a UK Athletics champion. Between both events, Christie accumulated 19 outdoor championship golds. Eleven of these golds were in the AAA championships which were broadly recognised as the more prestigious of the national titles.

*[[UK Athletics Championships]]<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/uk.htm UK Championships]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>
**100 metres: 1985, [[1987 UK Athletics Championships|1987]], [[1990 UK Athletics Championships|1990]], [[1991 UK Athletics Championships|1991]], [[1992 UK Athletics Championships|1992]], [[1993 UK Athletics Championships|1993]]
**200 metres: [[1985 UK Athletics Championships|1985]] (shared with [[John Regis (athlete)|John Regis]]), [[1988 UK Athletics Championships|1988]]
*[[AAA Championships]]<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm AAA Championships]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>
**100 metres: 1985, [[1986 AAA Championships|1986]], [[1988 AAA Championships|1988]], [[1989 AAA Championships|1989]], [[1990 AAA Championships|1990]]†, [[1991 AAA Championships|1991]], [[1992 AAA Championships|1992]], [[1993 AAA Championships|1993]], [[1994 AAA Championships|1994]], [[1996 AAA Championships|1996]]
**200 metres: [[1988 AAA Championships|1988]]
*[[AAA Indoor Championships]]<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaai.htm AAA Indoor Championships]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>
**60 metres: [[1989 AAA Indoor Championships|1989]], [[1990 AAA Indoor Championships|1990]], [[1991 AAA Indoor Championships|1991]]
**200 metres: [[1981 AAA Indoor Championships|1981]], [[1982 AAA Indoor Championships|1982]], [[1985 AAA Indoor Championships|1985]]†, [[1987 AAA Indoor Championships|1987]], [[1988 AAA Indoor Championships|1988]], [[1989 AAA Indoor Championships|1989]], [[1991 AAA Indoor Championships|1991]]
*† Christie was the top Briton behind [[Mel Lattany]] at the 1985 AAA Indoor 200&nbsp;m
*†† Christie was the top Briton behind [[Calvin Smith]] at the 1990 AAA 100&nbsp;m

===Circuit wins===
*<small>All information taken from [[IAAF]] and [[UK Athletics]] profiles.</small><ref name=UKA/><ref name="IAAF" />
;100 metres
*Gateshead: 1985, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996
*[[Meeting de Atletismo Madrid]]: 1986
*Prague: 1987
*Budapest: 1987
*Birmingham: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992
*[[London Grand Prix|London]]: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1996
*[[Meeting Nikaïa]]: 1988
*Sheffield: 1991, 1993
*[[Notturna di Milano]]: 1992
*[[Cena Slovenska - Slovak Gold]]: 1992
*[[Golden Gala]]: 1992, 1993, 1997
*[[Bislett Games]]: 1992, 1993, 1995
*[[ISTAF Berlin]]: 1992
*[[Memorial Van Damme]]: 1993, 1994, 1995
*[[Gran Premio Diputación]]: 1994
*[[Live Nuremberg]]: 1994
*[[Weltklasse Zürich]]: 1994, 1995
*[[Toto International Super Meeting]]: 1994, 1995
*[[Perth Track Classic]]: 1995, 1996
*[[Meeting Lille-Métropole]]: 1995
*[[Rieti Meeting]]: 1995
*[[Melbourne Track Classic]]: 1997
*[[Adriaan Paulen Memorial]]: 1997
;200 metres
*Gateshead: 1987, 1990
*Prague: 1987
*Birmingham: 1987, 1988, 1989
*[[Bislett Games]]: 1987
*[[Athens IAAF Indoor Meeting]]: 1987
*[[Indoor Flanders Meeting]]: 1988, 1991, 1994
*[[Cosford Indoor Games]]: 1988, 1989
*[[Sparkassen Cup (athletics)|Sparkassen Cup]]: 1989, 1997
*[[London Grand Prix|London]]: 1991
*[[Weltklasse in Köln]]: 1993
*[[Meeting Pas de Calais]]: 1995
*[[Meeting Lille-Métropole]]: 1995
;60 metres
*[[Glasgow International Match]]: 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995
*[[Cosford Indoor Games]]: 1989, 1990
*[[Sparkassen Cup (athletics)|Sparkassen Cup]]: 1989, 1997
*[[Athens IAAF Indoor Meeting]]: 1989
*[[Indoor Flanders Meeting]]: 1991, 1994
*[[Sindelfingen Leichtathletik Grand Prix]]: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997
*[[Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix]]: 1992, 1994
*[[Memorial José María Cagigal]]: 1994
*[[Gunma International]]: 1995
*[[Meeting Pas de Calais]]: 1995

==Awards==
*[[European Athlete of the Year]] trophy: 1993
*[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award]]: 1993

==Personal life==
Linford Christie has eight children. His niece [[Rachel Christie]] was crowned [[Miss England]] in 2009 though later relinquished the title following allegations of assault.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8607292.stm |work=BBC News|title=Miss England assault case dropped|date=7 April 2010}}</ref> His godson [[Omari Patrick]] is a professional footballer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/15281851.Bantams_hope_to_be_quick_out_of_the_blocks_with_young_talent/|title=Bradford City hope to be quick out of the blocks with young talent|date=12 May 2017|access-date=13 May 2017|author=Simon Parker|newspaper=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref>

In 1993 Christie formed a sports management and promotions company, Nuff Respect, with sprint-hurdler [[Colin Jackson]]. One of their early products was a sports training and workout video, ''The S Plan: Get Fit with Christie and Jackson''. Jackson was later to leave the enterprise, saying "Linford has to be in control, he has to be number one, he has to be the leader."<ref>Colin Jackson, ''The Autobiography'' (2003)</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of men's Olympic and World Championship athletics sprint champions]]
*[[List of 1988 Summer Olympics medal winners]]
*[[List of 1992 Summer Olympics medal winners]]
*[[List of Olympic medalists in athletics (men)]]
*[[List of World Athletics Championships medalists (men)]]
*[[List of IAAF World Indoor Championships medalists (men)]]
*[[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics (men)]]
*[[List of European Athletics Championships medalists (men)]]
*[[List of European Athletics Indoor Championships medalists (men)]]
*[[List of 100 metres national champions (men)]]
*[[List of 200 metres national champions (men)]]
*[[100 metres at the Olympics]]
*[[4 × 100 metres relay at the Olympics]]
*[[100 metres at the World Championships in Athletics]]
*[[4 × 100 metres relay at the World Championships in Athletics]]
*[[Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World Athletics Championships]]
*[[List of world records in athletics]]
*[[List of world records in masters athletics]]
*[[List of European records in masters athletics]]
*[[List of doping cases in athletics]]
*[[List of masters athletes]]
*[[List of sports announcers]]
*[[List of RAF Cadets]]
*[[List of news media phone hacking scandal victims]]
*[[List of Oxford Street Christmas lights celebrities]]
*[[List of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! contestants (UK)]]
*[[List of Jamaican British people]]
*[[British African-Caribbean people]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|first=Duncan|last=Mackay|title=Linford Christie|year=1996|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|isbn=978-0-297-83530-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Linford Christie}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{World Athletics}}
*[http://www.mastersathletics.net/fileadmin/html/Rankings/All_Time/100metresmen.htm Masters T&F 100 metres All-Time Rankings] 9.97 (men's over 35s world rankings)
*[http://www.mastersathletics.net/fileadmin/html/Rankings/All_Time/200metresmen.htm Masters T&F 200 metres All-Time Rankings] 20.11 (men's over 35s world rankings)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051228132231/http://www.nuff-respect.co.uk/ Nuff Respect]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/04/athletics.features Interview] with ''[[The Guardian]]''

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Nigel Mansell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]|years=1993}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Damon Hill]]}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before=None}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[European Athlete of the Year|Men's European Athlete of the Year]]|years=1993}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Colin Jackson]]}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Marian Woronin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Men's 100 metres European record progression|European Record Holder Men's 100 m]]|years=24 September 1988 – 22 August 2004}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Francis Obikwelu]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Sporting positions
|list1 =
{{Footer Olympic Champions 100 m Men}}
{{Footer World Champions 100 m Men}}
{{Footer European Champions 100 m Men}}
{{Footer European Indoor Champions 60m Men}}
{{Footer European Indoor Champions 200m Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 100 metres Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 4x100 m Men|1990}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions 100m Men}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions 4x100 m Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Great Britain Men}}
{{Footer UK NC 100 Metres Men}}
{{Footer UK NC 200 Metres Men}}
}}
{{European Athlete of the Year (men)}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{PAP European Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christie, Linford}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica]]
[[Category:People from Acton, London]]
[[Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Ealing]]
[[Category:English male sprinters]]
[[Category:British male sprinters]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:English Olympic competitors]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships medalists]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World record holders in masters athletics]]
[[Category:World Athletics indoor record holders (relay)]]
[[Category:European Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Doping cases in athletics]]
[[Category:English sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Jamaican sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:English people of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:Black British sportsmen]]
[[Category:Jamaican emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:English motivational speakers]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Members of Thames Valley Harriers]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]