Linford Christie

“As athletes, when you find something that gets to someone you have to press their buttons.”

“Adopting a new healthier lifestyle can involve changing diet to include more fresh fruit and vegetables as well as increasing levels of exercise.”

“I am there for the athletes I coach.”

“When I was competing, I trained between three and six hours a day, seven days a week.”

“People live, people die. It's always hard when it's a member of your family.”

“I think there's institutionalised racism in this country.”

“I am a coach on the outside of the establishment and that works.”

“Olympic Style lifting compliments sprint training perfectly. It does this by making sure everything in the body is 'fully connected.' This is based on the principle that all movements have a kinetic chain.”

“When I was young you raced from one end of the street to the other, or round the block.”

“I know what it takes to get to the top.”

“We have got to go out there and deliver, go on the streets and find athletes, improve facilities around the country and find coaches. We have got to go out there and search for a star.”

“Obviously I was disappointed when it fell into disuse, because it was my own track named after me, but I am sure all those youngsters we lost will be coming back, and I certainly intend to be down here as much as I can, coaching and advising.”

“There was no money in the sport but we'd be out there day in, day out, rain or shine, doing it.”

“I have got better things to do in working with my athletes who I feel are going to be involved in 2012.”

“Within what gifts you are given you can change certain events in your life and some people choose not to do that.”

“I think it's great that they are getting funding, but it's just too easy. They don't have to work for it. We did it because we had pride, because we loved it.”

“I'm good in the garden and I can do the cooking, ironing and cleaning, but I can't hang wallpaper or paint.”

“When I was competing, I cut out red meat but only because I felt it took too long to digest, so I stuck to chicken and fish.”

“Some of today's athletes do not have that kind of pride. They left school at 16, have never had a job in their life and are getting Lottery funding, earning money as an athlete.”

“I coach a few guys and they work very, very hard, but in our day we did it because we just loved it.”