Du'aine Ladejo
Encyclopedia
Du'aine Ladejo (born 14 February 1971, in Paddington
, London
, England
) 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, Olympics and Commonwealth Games during the 1990s.
Since retiring from athletics, he has appeared on several television shows including Gladiators, where he is known by his Gladiator alias "Predator". Ladejo is also the founder of Du'aine's Fit4Schools, an organisation which raises funds to promote health and fitness in schools.
into second place. Ladejo also won the 400 metres gold medal at the European Indoor Championships
in both 1994 and 1996. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games
, he won a 400 metres silver medal (finishing runner-up to Kenya
's Charles Gitonga
) and a 4x400 metres relay gold medal. At the Olympic Games
, Ladejo won two medals in the 4x400 metres relay – a silver medal in 1996 and a bronze medal in 1992.
Following the 1996 Olympics, Ladejo switched his focus to other athletics events, though he never enjoyed as much success as he did in the 400 metres. He tried his hand at the Decathlon
, in which he finished seventh at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
, and also competed in the 400 metre hurdles.
During his athletics career, Ladejo trained with Birchfield Harriers
.
. In the early 2000s, Ladejo competed in the BBC
TV sports show Superstars
, winning the competition in 2004 and finishing runner-up to Alain Baxter
in 2005. Ladejo also appeared on the ITV
reality TV show Celebrity Love Island in 2005.
In 2007 Ladejo formed Quiet Storm Productions, which owned the television show Australia's Greatest Athlete. In 2008, Ladejo joined the Sky One
revival of the TV show Gladiators, competing under the Gladiator alias "Predator".
, before going on to King Edward's School, Witley
. He completed his high school education in the United States
at Medina High School in Medina, Ohio
, where he graduated in 1988. He then went on to study radio, television and film at the University of Texas, graduating in 1993.
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born athlete and television personality. In his sports career, he was best known for winning the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
sprint gold medal at the 1994 European Championships
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:...
and being a member of the United Kingdom and England 400 metre relay squads at the European Championships, Olympics and Commonwealth Games during the 1990s.
Since retiring from athletics, he has appeared on several television shows including Gladiators, where he is known by his Gladiator alias "Predator". Ladejo is also the founder of Du'aine's Fit4Schools, an organisation which raises funds to promote health and fitness in schools.
Athletics career
At the 1994 European Championships, Ladejo won gold medals in both the 400 metres and the 4x400 metres relay. He won the individual sprint in 45.09 seconds, beating his compatriot and defending-champion Roger BlackRoger 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...
into second place. Ladejo also won the 400 metres gold medal at the European Indoor Championships
European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Indoor Championships were held for the first time in 1970, replacing the European Indoor Games which had been held since 1966. Run by the European Athletic Association, the championships took place annually in different cities all over Europe until 1990, when it was changed...
in both 1994 and 1996. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
, he won a 400 metres silver medal (finishing runner-up to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
's Charles Gitonga
Charles Gitonga
Charles Gitonga is a retired athlete from Kenya who specialized in the 400 metres. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria....
) and a 4x400 metres relay gold medal. At the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, Ladejo won two medals in the 4x400 metres relay – a silver medal in 1996 and a bronze medal in 1992.
Following the 1996 Olympics, Ladejo switched his focus to other athletics events, though he never enjoyed as much success as he did in the 400 metres. He tried his hand at the Decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
, in which he finished seventh at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
, and also competed in the 400 metre hurdles.
During his athletics career, Ladejo trained with Birchfield Harriers
Birchfield Harriers
Birchfield Harriers is an athletics club, founded in 1877. Its home is at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, England.Named after the Birchfield district of Birmingham, their previous home , at nearby Perry Barr, was Alexander Sports Ground. It still carries their badge, a running stag, rendered in...
.
Media career
For a period during his athletics career, Ladejo also presented a TV show, Du'aine's World, on London Weekend TelevisionLondon Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
. In the early 2000s, Ladejo competed in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV sports show Superstars
Superstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
, winning the competition in 2004 and finishing runner-up to Alain Baxter
Alain Baxter
Alain Baxter is a professional skier from Scotland. He specialises in the slalom discipline.-Background:He is the son of Iain and Sue Baxter, who were both British Ski Team members, and was born in Edinburgh. He is named after the 70s French skiing star Alain Penz...
in 2005. Ladejo also appeared on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
reality TV show Celebrity Love Island in 2005.
In 2007 Ladejo formed Quiet Storm Productions, which owned the television show Australia's Greatest Athlete. In 2008, Ladejo joined the Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
revival of the TV show Gladiators, competing under the Gladiator alias "Predator".
Education
Ladejo started his education at Forest Grange School in West SussexWest Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, before going on to King Edward's School, Witley
King Edward's School, Witley
King Edward's School, Witley is an independent co-educational boarding and day school, founded in 1553 by King Edward VI and Nicholas Ridley. The School is located in the village of Wormley , Surrey, England, having moved to its present location in 1867. The School became fully co-educational in 1952...
. He completed his high school education in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at Medina High School in Medina, Ohio
Medina, Ohio
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males...
, where he graduated in 1988. He then went on to study radio, television and film at the University of Texas, graduating in 1993.