Colin Jackson Interview

Colin -

I actually got into athletics when I was 4 years old because my sister used to run and compete. I used to watch her run and compete and I thought I fancy doing that.

My greatest achievement - for me has to be the World Junior Championships at the age of 19, it was my very first global title so that's what made it outstanding for me.

My sporting hero goes back a very long time ago, it was a man by the name of Daley Thompson. He was a decathlete, a great decathlete from Great Britain who won countless medals. Olympic gold medals, World Championship gold medals, European gold medals, Commonwealth gold medals, and also he was a world record holder. So, because he achieved everything in sport that I wanted to achieve, and he was British, he was my hero.

I think the best moment I've ever commentated on has to be from the Beijing Olympic Games when Usain Bolt won the 100 metres and set an incredible world record. It was such a phenomenal achievement that it literally sent shivers down my spine.

As a teenager I was really quite quiet, I didn't really say too much. I loved sports, but yeah, I was actually a really quiet young man.

Setting yourself targets and goals are really the most important thing, but you have to get up in the morning. You know you need to have a reason to get up in the morning, so set yourself the right goal and target to achieve what you want to achieve is vital.

My favourite school meal, I'm not so sure if I should say this, but I did love Shepherds Pie. My favourite favourite desert was an Apple Pie with custard, plenty of it!

As a teenager, I always say you need to have fun, this time of the life is the most important time of your life. You've really got to suck up every bit of information around you. So have a lot of fun, embrace what you see, because you know your not a teenager very long.

I think exercise and eating well, they go hand in hand together, and it's really vital especially if you can spend a bit of time studying, because a healthy body does create a healthy mind. This is the most important time in your life, and for anybody really, it sets you up perfectly well. Get good nutrition, balanced nutrition, with exercise and you can end up a king.