By 1998, Colin Jackson was in his thirties and had been competing at World class
level for over a decade, but his appetite for athletics was seemingly undiminished
and his graceful, fluid technique as a hurdler was still an example to his fellow
competitors and a delight to witness. But were the gold medals he won in his twenties
now beyond him? He set that record straight in two amazing seasons. At the 1998
European Championships in Budapest he won the semifinal with a new championship
best performance of 13.02 sec. beating his own 1994 CBP, then seventy-five minutes
later he recorded an identical time to win the final from the German Falk Balzer (13.12sec.)
It was Jackson's fastest time for four years and his third successive gold for the event.
He declined to defend his Commonwealth title the next month in controversial
circumstances (a major meeting in Tokyo was deemed more attractive to a professional
athlete). However, all was forgiven by the end of 1999 (even in Wales) after he won
Britain's only gold medal at the World Championships in Seville. By the narrowest of
margins his famous finishing dip edged him in front of Cuba's Anier Garcia. He won in
13.04sec. with Garcia clocking 13.07sec and thus became the first Briton to win a second
world title.(above photo shows L. to R. Yeol Hernandez (Cuba) 6th 13.30,
Falk Balzer (Ger) 5th 13.26, Jackson, Duane Ross (USA) 3rd. 13.12 and Garcia)
As luck would have it, defending champion Allen Johnson was injured before the semifinal,
the same fate that befell Jackson in 1991. This win, however, will be one that Colin will
savour for many years judging by his emotional tearful reaction to victory at the end of
the race. (George Herringshaw)