Book review: The Autobiography of Colin Jackson

Continuing my series of great British athletes, I’m going to review the autobiography of Colin Jackson today.  This series has so far included Chris Hoy, Steve Redgrave, Linford Christie and Geoff Capes.

Colin’s autobiography

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Is it any good?

This is a tremendous book, if only because Colin is so capable at exploring the psychological issues that were in play at varying times in his career.  Reading his autobiography, you get a very clear and uncluttered picture of what was going on in his head at any given time.

Consequently, it’s a great insight into the mind of a truly great athlete, who through talent and extremely hard work set a track record that lasted for nearly 13 years.  At the 1993 world championships, he set a world record of 12.91 seconds in the 110m high hurdles. This record was unbeaten for almost thirteen years and remains the world championship record.

Also, at the 1994 world indoor championships in Sindelfingen, Germany, Colin set a world indoor record at the 60 metres hurdles with a time of 7.30 seconds.  This record still stands, 17 years later!

Setting a record is, in my view, in a different league from simply being the best at the time.  Setting a record puts you ahead of everyone who has been before, not just those who are around at the time you are competing.

And setting a record that lasted for over a decade after you achieved it puts you ahead of most of the next generation as well.  Truly, Colin Jackson was one of the greatest track athletes the world has ever seen.

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So who was Colin Jackson?

Colin Jackson was born in Cardiff, Wales, of Jamaican heritage.  His Jamaican heritage, along with his chosen sport (110m high hurdles), made him the ideal contemporary and training partner for Linford Christie and, for a time, they were inseperable.

Coached by the impressive Malcolm Arnold, Colin’s career began with a bang when he won the gold at the 1986 World Junior Championships.  Shortly afterwards, he took the silver in the 1986 Commonwealth Games and then silver again at the 1988 Olympic Games behind Roger Kingdom.  Sadly, this would be his best ever place at the Olympics, as injuries beset him with horrible regularity every four years afterwards.

In 1992, as Linford walked away with the gold medal in the men’s 100m sprint, Colin was suffering from a torn intercostal muscle.  Photos of him during the race show how much pain he was enduring just to race.

Ten days after the Olympics, there was a track meet, at which all of the finalists in the Olympics attended.  Colin turned up, still rehabbing his injury, and wiped the floor with everyone, including the new Olympic champion, in a time faster than the new champion had achieved in the Olympic final.

The 1992 Olympics spurred Colin on to new heights, however.  It was less than a year later, at the 1993 world championships, that he set a world record of 12.91 seconds in the 110m high hurdles.  And the following year, at the 1994 European Indoor Championships he became a double European champion.  Not only did he win his natural event, the 60m hurdles, but he won the 60m sprint race as well.

His 60m sprint time of 6.49s was a European record, as well as a championship record. These records stood for 5 years.  The 60m hurdles record still stands, 17 years later!

From the unlucky Olympic final in 1993 through to February 1995, Colin was unbeaten in any race he showed up at.

After that, his career never quite reached the same dizzy heights, but he competed at the highest level until 2003, when he retired in front of a home crowd at the world indoor championships.

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Pick up any training tips?

Absolutely! At various points Colin discusses the importance of power training for the 110m hurdles and sprint races.  Also, in his training camps, it often appeared that he did many of the same sprints and drills as Linford Christie and John Regis.

However, the thing that strikes you as you read through the book is his utter dedication and consistency.  He dedicated his life to his sporting career, to be the best in the world, and if that meant he didn’t get to go out on the town occasionally, he could live with that.

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Would I like this book?

If you are interested in understanding what drives someone to become the best in the world at what they do, get this book.  If you have any passing interest in the athletic history of the late 1980′s and 1990′s, this will also be an invaluable investment.