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John Regis had a long and successful career as an international
sprinter, winning multiple medals at all four of the major international
championships. Regis first tasted success in the senior ranks while
still a junior, when he dead-heated for first with Linford Christie in
the 200m at the 1985 UK Championships. The following year he won that
title in his own right, and then set a new personal best of 20.41sec
when he won the AAA 200m title on 21 June. The following month Regis
competed at his first Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where he finished
8th in the 200m final. John had a good year, and nearly a great year
in 1987, starting with his winning a bronze medal in the 200m at the
European Indoor Championships in February.
In the outdoor season, Regis
retained his AAA 200m title at London on 2 August, lowering his
personal best to 20.25sec in the process. The following month, he
competed at his first World Championships in Rome, where he showed that
he was a force to be reckoned with by narrowly defeating the defending
champion, Calvin Smith (USA) in the first of the two semi-finals. In an
evenly matched final on 3 September, five men were still in contention
at the 150m mark, with the 20 year-old Regis just leading from Gil
Queneherve (France), and Smith languishing in fifth, but finishing
fastest of all. Regis still maintained his lead until the last few
strides, where, through lack of experience, he dipped at the line too
early (see photo above, in lane 2 at far right), and was just
pipped at the post by both Smith (lane 8) and Queneherve (lane 6), as
the three crossed the line virtually together. John's bronze-medal
winning time of 20.18 sec was another new personal best, and a new UK
record. (Ron Casey)
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