Brian Whittle
Encyclopedia
Brian Whittle is a British
athlete who won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay
at both the 1986 European Championships in Athletics
and 1994 European Championships in Athletics
. He also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
. He is famed for running the third leg of the 1986 European Championships in Athletics
final with one shoe.
. His father was a sprinter and ran until his late teens but other than that his family background was not overly sporty. As a boy, Brian tried a wide range of sports, enjoying many of them. He has maintained that his talent lay in his ability to train.
. His best performance in the 400m was 45.22 at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
. He finished 3rd in his heat but did not progress past the semi-final. Perhaps his greatest achievement, and what he is best remembered for, is the manner he which he helped Great Britain win the Gold medal in the 4 x 400m relay at the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart. He ran the third leg of the race with one shoe running a personal best leg time of 45.09s. As he took the baton from Kriss Akabusi
, someone stood on his shoe and it ripped off, leaving him to run the race without it. The other members of the team were Roger Black
and Derek Redmond
, all of whom ran Personal Best times on the day.
Brian also won a relay gold medal in the 1994 Helsinki European Championship 4x400 metres relay team alongside David McKenzie
, Roger Black
and Du'aine Ladejo
.
for Scotland at 16. She went on to be a PE teacher and competed in the new series of Gladiators
. He coached his younger daughter Rachel (born in 1995), who by 2009 had six national athletics titles to her name and competed at the 2009 International Children's Games in Athens at which she won a bronze in the high jump, silver in the 100 metres and gold in the relay. His youngest daughter, Emma, was born in 2008.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
athlete who won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay
4 x 400 metres relay
The 4 x 400 meters relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 400 meters or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first 500 meters is run in lanes...
at both the 1986 European Championships in Athletics
1986 European Championships in Athletics
The 14th European Athletics Championships were held from 26 to 31 August 1986 at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart, a city in West Germany.-Track:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Field:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Track:...
and 1994 European Championships in Athletics
1994 European Championships in Athletics
The 16th European Athletics Championships were held from 7 August to 14 August 1994 in the Olympic Stadium of Helsinki, Finland.-Track:1986 |1990 |1994 |1998 |2002 |-Field:1986 |1990 |1994 |1998 |2002 |-Track:1986 |1990 |1994 |1998 |2002 |-Field:...
. He also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. He is famed for running the third leg of the 1986 European Championships in Athletics
1986 European Championships in Athletics
The 14th European Athletics Championships were held from 26 to 31 August 1986 at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart, a city in West Germany.-Track:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Field:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Track:...
final with one shoe.
Early life
Brian was born in 1964 growing up in the Scottish town of TroonTroon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
. His father was a sprinter and ran until his late teens but other than that his family background was not overly sporty. As a boy, Brian tried a wide range of sports, enjoying many of them. He has maintained that his talent lay in his ability to train.
Senior career
At club level Brian ran for both Enfield & Haringey/Ayr seaforthAyr seaforth
Ayr Seaforth A.A.C is an athletics club located on the west coast of Scotland. The club trains at Dam Park track situated outiside Ayr College...
. His best performance in the 400m was 45.22 at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. He finished 3rd in his heat but did not progress past the semi-final. Perhaps his greatest achievement, and what he is best remembered for, is the manner he which he helped Great Britain win the Gold medal in the 4 x 400m relay at the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart. He ran the third leg of the race with one shoe running a personal best leg time of 45.09s. As he took the baton from Kriss Akabusi
Kriss Akabusi
Kriss Kezie Uche Chukwu Duru Akabusi MBE is a former sprint and hurdling athlete from the United Kingdom. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1990 European Championships, a gold in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1991 World Championships, and a silver medal in...
, someone stood on his shoe and it ripped off, leaving him to run the race without it. The other members of the team were Roger Black
Roger Black
Roger Anthony Black MBE is a retired British athlete. During his athletics career, he won individual silver medals in the 400 metres sprint at both the Olympic Games and World Championships, two individual gold medals at the European Championships, and 4x400 metres relay gold medals at both the...
and Derek Redmond
Derek Redmond
Derek Anthony Redmond is a retired British athlete. During his career, he held the British record for the 400 metres sprint, and won gold medals in the 4x400 metres relay at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.However his career was blighted by a series of...
, all of whom ran Personal Best times on the day.
Brian also won a relay gold medal in the 1994 Helsinki European Championship 4x400 metres relay team alongside David McKenzie
David McKenzie (athlete)
David McKenzie is a British athlete who won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1994 Commonwealth Games held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, along with teammates, Peter Crampton, Adrian Patrick, and Du'aine Ladejo.-Early life:McKenzie attended Ingram High School in Croydon,...
, Roger Black
Roger Black
Roger Anthony Black MBE is a retired British athlete. During his athletics career, he won individual silver medals in the 400 metres sprint at both the Olympic Games and World Championships, two individual gold medals at the European Championships, and 4x400 metres relay gold medals at both the...
and Du'aine Ladejo
Du'aine Ladejo
Du'aine Ladejo is an English-born athlete and television personality. In his sports career, he was best known for winning the 400 metres sprint gold medal at the 1994 European Championships and being a member of the United Kingdom and England 400 metre relay squads at the European Championships,...
.
Personal life
Brian's wife, Dawn, was also a runner at district and county level. His eldest daughter, Carly, concentrated on team sports and played netballNetball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
for Scotland at 16. She went on to be a PE teacher and competed in the new series of Gladiators
Gladiators
Gladiators is a British television series produced by LWT for ITV on Saturdays nights from 10 October 1992 to 1 January 2000. It is an adaptation of the United States game show American Gladiators. An Australian spin-off and a Swedish one followed...
. He coached his younger daughter Rachel (born in 1995), who by 2009 had six national athletics titles to her name and competed at the 2009 International Children's Games in Athens at which she won a bronze in the high jump, silver in the 100 metres and gold in the relay. His youngest daughter, Emma, was born in 2008.