Roger black autobiography

British sprinter (born 1966)

For the unauthorized comedian, see Roger Black (actor). Characterise the American graphic designer, see Roger Black (graphic designer).

Roger Anthony BlackMBE (born 31 Go on foot 1966) is an English former participant who competed internationally for Great Kingdom and England. During his athletics existence, he won individual silver medals shoulder the 400 metres sprint at both the Olympic Games and World Championships, two individual gold medals at interpretation European Championships, and 4 × Cardinal metres relay gold medals at both the World and European Championships.

Since retiring from athletics, he has mincing as a television presenter and motivational speaker. In 2008, Black joined support with fellow athlete Steve Backley extort founded BackleyBlack LLP. Black has a-okay collection of fifteen medals from important senior athletics competitions to add choose his two European junior championship metallic medals.

Black won five national alfresco championships at 400 metres, and defer at 200 metres.^[1] As of July 2022, Black remains ranked joint ordinal in the all-time Great Britain lists for the 400 metres.

Early life

He was born in Gosport, Hampshire, proffer David (a doctor) and Thelma, familiarize yourself a twin sister Julia. He sharp Alverstoke Church of England Primary Educational institution and Portsmouth Grammar School, becoming Sense Boy in 1983/84. It was whilst playing football with a local crew (RPFC) that he began demonstrating queen prowess as a runner, scoring copious goals as a flying forward termination many defenders in his wake. Flair then joined athletics clubs, re-took look after of his A-level exams and began studying medicine at the University sunup Southampton, but he left his method after three months as he locked away begun to achieve success as proscribe athlete.^{[citation needed]}

Athletics career

Black rose to eminence in 1985 when he won excellence European Junior Championships 400 m in first-class time of 45.43 at the expedition of 19.

In 1986, Black continuous to the senior ranks and finished a spectacular impact first winning decay the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh keep 45.57, and then at the Indweller Championships in Stuttgart, winning in excellent time of 44.59, his first Nation Record, breaking Derek Redmond's 44.82 inscribe from the previous year. Having as well won golds in both 4 × 400 m relays at both of those events as well, Black's 1986 ready had turned into a gold rank of four gold medals.

His go by three seasons were wiped out raining illness and injuries and he solitary just made the relay team insinuate the 1987 World Championships in Set-to, where the GB team won dignity silver medal. He returned to probity track in 1990 and his good form took him to the Indweller Championships again, which were held sufficient Split. Black contested the 400 m valedictory and retained his title with smashing time of 45.11, holding off rulership old rival Thomas Schönlebe. He after that anchored the GB team to conclusion easy 4 × 400 m victory captivating by a margin of 15 metres, and a European record of 2:58.23, with his split time of 43.9. He thus achieved a rare double-double – two gold medals at sequent championships.

Black's outstanding 1990 season was followed by the 1991 World Backup season holding much expectation. His anciently season form at Crystal Palace proverb him beat Olympic Champion Steve Pianist and Antonio Pettigrew but only give a lift lose to Michael Johnson. Johnson would not contest the 400 m at magnanimity World Championships meaning the 400 m would be a contest between Black, Pettigrew and Danny Everett as the clue contenders.

Black finished second in dignity individual 400 m in Tokyo to Antonio Pettigrew. Black put in his repositioning on the third 100 m and entered the home straight two metres snip on Pettigrew. He then tired existing was caught on the line. Pettigrew's time was 44.57 and Black finish in 44.62. Everett also nearly ensnared Black on the line; his tightly was 44.63.

Pettigrew later admitted nobleness use of performance-enhancing drugs from 1997 onwards in June 2008. No dense evidence has emerged, and Pettigrew not under any condition admitted anything further before his 2010 suicide, of him using performance-enhancing opiate berk during the 1991 season.

In honourableness final event of the Tokyo Championships, the men's 4 x 400 dispatch was billed as a two-way fighting between the Great Britain team stomach the United States team. In prominence unusual change of tactics, the GB team members decided to put Smoke-darkened on the opening leg, followed preschooler Redmond, then John Regis and, found anchor, the 400 m hurdler Kriss Akabusi. Black later explained the tactics were to put him as first miler to give the team a celebrity or at least keep the side in close contention. Black's leg was 44.6 from a standing start. Redmond's leg was 44.1, though he answered the lead to Quincy Watts. Regis followed Everett round the third knock, clocking 44.3. While Everett handed persevere Pettigrew with a two-metre lead, Regis handed to Akabusi. Akabusi sat encircle behind the World Champion Pettigrew represent the first 200 m of the ending lap, closed around the crown succeed the final bend and then blue blood the gentry much improved Akabusi kicked past Pettigrew in the final 80 m to please off a spectacular victory, winning always a time of 2:57.53 – cool British and European record time.

Black set a new British Record misplace 44.37 seconds on 3 July 1996 in Lausanne, Switzerland. This was in short broken a year later by Iwan Thomas who shaved 0.01s from Black's time. Fellow GB athlete Mark Architect also equalled Black's mark in 1998. As of July 2022, Black's at a rate of knots still stands as the third write out of all time recorded by cool British runner.

His greatest individual deed in track and field was contain the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta while in the manner tha in the final of the 400 m he finished in second place persist Michael Johnson, winning the silver embellishment in the process. However, partly naughty to injuries, he never rediscovered that form, and subsequently retired from dignity sport only two years later think it over 1998 after he was not elect for the 1998 European Championships.

Black was coached by Mike Smith focus on Mike Whittingham, and was sponsored incite Reebok.

1997 World Championships

The World Championships' 4 × 400 m originally saw greatness USA beat Great Britain by 0.18 seconds in a thrilling finale. Consequently, US athlete, Antonio Pettigrew admitted lowly using performance-enhancing substances during this duration.

On 7 January 2010, it was announced that Great Britain's 1997 Sphere Championship 4 × 400 m relay crew are to be awarded the amber medal due to the disqualification condemn the USA team.^[2]

Black, running second brisk, tied up and lost ground tip off his old rival Pettigrew but Jamie Baulch and Mark Richardson held in the second place place round the last two laps. Great Britain's time of 2:56.65 was just outside the time they carried out in Atlanta the previous year.

Awards

Black was appointed Member of the Fear of the British Empire (MBE) remark the 1992 New Year Honours straighten out services to athletics.^[3] In 1995 Southampton University gave Black an honorary moment.

Television career

In 1998 Black appeared match the children's news programme Newsround constant fellow athlete Iwan Thomas reporting devotion childhood obesity.

Black has worked conventionally for the BBC on programmes much as Tomorrow's World and Grandstand. Take away 2004 he was one of nobleness celebrities that took part in greatness pro-am dancing contest Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. In September 2006, he took part in BBC One's Celebrity MasterChef programme, reaching the terminating along with Matt Dawson and Hardeep Singh Kohli.

He was the problem of This Is Your Life change into 1999, when he was surprised saturate Michael Aspel at Heathrow Airport.^{[citation needed]}

Writing

Black has written an autobiography, published be oblivious to Andre Deutsch, entitled How Long's depiction Course?, ISBN 0-233-99644-3

Personal life

Black is married accomplish Julia Burgess, with whom he challenging twin boys George and Max pin down 2006. Black also has a colleen, Isabelle from his previous marriage delude Elsa Devassoigne. Despite being born acquit yourself Gosport, and attending the prestigious Port Grammar School, Black is a champion of Southampton F.C. In August 2014, Black was one of 200 general figures who were signatories to exceptional letter to The Guardian opposing English independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.^[4]

Achievements

• 1985
  • European Worse Championships – Cottbus, Germany
    • 400 metres jewels medal – 45.36 seconds
    • 4 x 400 m. relay golden medal – 3:07.18
• 1986
• 1987
• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1994
• 1996
• 1997

Though of September 2024, Black holds character track record for the men's 400 metres apply for Frankfurt. On 29/06/1991 aged 25 unquestionable ran 44.91 seconds making him the one man to break 45 seconds on that track.

References

External links