Christie Slags Brits

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Christie fumes at ‘lack of pride’

Christie was dismayed by Britain’s performance at the European Cup in Florence last month
Linford Christie has accused some of Britain’s young athletes of being motivated by money rather than medals.
The former Olympic 100m champion also claims that lottery funding has made a lot of them “soft” and believes they do not have the same desire that he had.

“A lot of these guys are being paid to keep fit. We did it because we had pride,” Christie told BBC Sport.

“I think it’s great they are getting lottery funding but it’s just too easy. They don’t have to work for it.”

Christie hung up his spikes in 1997, five years after becoming Olympic champion at the Barcelona Games.

But the 44-year-old star is still heavily involved in athletics, coaching the likes of Darren Campbell, Matt Elias, Joice Maduaka and Tim Abeyie.

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

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

Christie is particularly critical of the athletes that made up the British men’s team at last month’s European Cup in Florence.

The team was relegated after two days of competition but earned a stay of execution because next year’s event is able to accommodate more countries.

“The problem is pride. I felt the athletes did not have that kind of pride,” said Christie. “They didn’t look as though they were going out there for a competition.”

Asked if lottery funding was making athletes “soft”, Christie replied: "To some extent it is because they don’t have to work for it.

“Some of these guys have left school at 16, have never had a job in their life and are getting lottery funding, earning money as an athlete.”

Christie says it is vital the problem is addressed now if Britain is to recapture its place among the world’s top nations.

“We’ve got to go out there and deliver,” he said. "We’ve got to go on the streets and find athletes, we’ve got to improve facilities around the country, and we’ve got to find coaches.

“We’ve got to go out there and search. It’s almost like a time now where we’ve got to search for a star.”

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The greatest athlete, tHE Uk HAS EVER SEEN, IS RIGHT.

I think british athletes are weak, have the wrong atitudes, etc. It has nothing to do with money, or facilities. Its about the indidvidual athlete, and how much they want it.

I don’t think Kelly Holmes should go to the world champs, because she did’nt run in are trails.

I beleave, Uk athletics, should start getting alot tougher. If you don’t compete in the trails, you don’t go.

In the us, its harsh, everyone, is compedative, and there is a fine line, between making the team, and not making it.

And the US athletes are alot tougher mentally, because their championships are so hard.

Bottom line is, linford christie is right, womans athletics in the uk is pathetic, i just switch the channel over.

My brother thinks that some of the woman, athlets we have look ill. Some of them look like they are going to take a nervous break down.

The only athletes i respect form the uk, are

Mark Lewis Francis big talent, has the power.
Jason Gardener
Chris Rawlison
Marlon Devonish
Christina Malcom big talent has the power

A few others, but i can’t be bothered writing.

am most concerned with Malcom, and Lewis Francis.

These athletes have the right atitude, and want to better themselfs, and reach finals.

You listen to some other athletes, and they aim for semi-finals, and are just weak.

I watched the european cup, and it was very funny. The bristish team should of, made a copy of the highlights from the team. And sold it as a comedy video, because it was pathetic.

Am not ignoring the fact that, some athletes might not have the abilty, they might be trying their hardest. But we have plenty of athletes, who can become quite decent, but unfortunatly, there charactors are weak.

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no way Its Seb Coe!

I don’t think Kelly Holmes should go to the world champs, because she did’nt run in are trails.
even though she is double Olympic champion, are you serious? this is not the USA, our strength in depth is not as great so we have to have a different selection policy, who is going to go in 800m/1500m instead?

Bottom line is, linford christie is right, womans athletics in the uk is pathetic, i just switch the channel over.
Kelly Holmes? Paula Radcliffe? Kelly Southerton?

The only athletes i respect form the uk, are

Mark Lewis Francis big talent, has the power.
Jason Gardener
Chris Rawlison
Marlon Devonish
Christina Malcom big talent has the power

MLF does have the talent, but i fear will never realise it.

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This is both good and bad. Good for the reasons you state, bad because if you are a big money player who has proved thier form consistantly over the season (lets say Gatlin) and have a slight injury or are tight going into a race it would probably be best for yourself and the team if you pull out and remain injury free. However, you don’t have this luxury at the trails, its do or die. And perhaps die in the terms of Mo Greene this year.

The US is a different situation to the UK. They have a huge pool of athletes to choose from. Everyone makes the A-standard. In the UK we have a few class performers and then the rest. What are you going to do overlook the A-Class standard athletes because they arn’t ready for the trails and take the B-Class? Of course all the A-Class should be ready, if they planned correctly but that just doesn’t happen. Almost everyone gets injured every year.

Personally i think it is the lack of education of the athletes and coaches with respect to planning, stress recovery and integration of all aspects of training (therapy, weights, diet) that is the problem in the UK not the funding. [In terms of technical coaching most seem to be very good and all are very dedicated]

I’ve seen national level coaches set thier athletes 8-10 block starts over 60m at 100% 2 days before the AAAs to fine tune thier starts!

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Athletes should be paid to train, no question about it! Now, it depends how you organise training, comp. and lifestyle.

Let’s take an example - 18yo male in his 3rd training season with no financial support can not train as efficiently as 18 yo. male in his 3rd season with financial support not because he has no talent or pride but because he needs to go to school or school and work to facilitate his lifestyle and on the top of that he needs to train 6 days a week 1-2 times a day [depends].

It has got nothing to do with pride! The champ is wrong. He ran for $$$ let’s do not fool ourselves. No moeny no honey as they say :slight_smile:

Yes, we all love the sport but without $$$ simply forget elite level. OK, State or National levels - yes but International - yeah right.

CF - Speed Trap - Eastern Europeans example from 80’s and even 90’s illustrates it well. IMO, pay Coaches, pay athletes, set standards, train smart and effective and you watch what happens. Including even UK too :smiley: :stuck_out_tongue:

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The reason why i say that, Kelly Holmes should not go the champs. Is because, british athletes have it too easy, and have handouts and favours like Christie said.

If Ukathletics, change their policy to the US system, watch the competition.

The AAA’s will be alot more exciting compedative, and hyped. It will be more important for the athletes, very important.

I don’t care if we are not as strong as the US, we must make this change now. It will have a chain reaction throughtout the Uk.

Because i don’t think Ukathletes respect their championships. And i think the UK selectors, who ever they are, are full of sh*t.

They have their favourite athletes, like Kelly Holmes, who can miss the champs, and still go the champs.

That is a insult to athletes like Maurice Greene, who is ten times, the athlete holmes is.

This past AAA;S was poor, very few athletes getting the qaulifying times, if they did it was the B.

Am not asking british athletics, to produce gold medal athletes. We should be a nation who can get three athletes in near enough every event, qaulifying.

Defintly the sprints, jumps, and throws come on.

The athletes are too laid back, the AAA’S should be do or die, british athletes around the country should be focusing, and hyped about these champs.

You mark my words, if they change the system, that athlete will train that 1% harder, and that !% makes that differents.

I CALL IT THE BOXERS MENTALITY, I MUST NOT LOOSE.

The aitude most athletes have now, is oh it ok to loose, not the get the qaulifying time, or atend my championships, i have abit of a cold.

They beta hope i don’t get any faster!!!

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Kelly Holmes has a proven track record of winning medals, her performance last year has inspired a lot of kids to take up athletics, we need the likes of Kelly at the major games to increase the profile of athletics in the UK.

If we have poor performances at major games the funding will be cut. I agree that some athletes appear to only have ambitions to get “on funding”, but I dont think not taking a proven winner, who has won against all ods, fought injury for years etc, will improve this situation.

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i dont know about the system in britain, but i do know that i dont have any respect for mark lewis-francis, the one who is supposed to be britains next great star. he is clearly not as motivated as other great athletes, and believes his own hype. he should be out working to get under 10 again, not whining about how people talk about his failed drug test instead of him beating mo. news flash: a win over mo in 10.44 is unimpressive. i could rant on and on about how i dont like this guy, but ill stop there.

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I’ll second that

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I agree with you on the motivation thing, of Mark Lewis Francis.

But i see this guy, and i watch him. And he loves compitition, and he competes on aggressive strength.

He has no fear.

I beleave he is the biggest talent, the UK has. In athletics its hard, to train day in day out, and not go off the rails.

Especially if your athlete, who comes from a background of Mark Lewis Francis.

You proberly, see soccer players with bear bellys, and going to night clubs.

(and still get piad, and shit load)

Mark Lewis Francis is just young, and he will learn.

I hope he is training now, i would like to see him in the 100m final.

Kelly Holmes should not go!

She has’nt inspired me to do anything.

She is pretty,and a great great athlete.

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???

He has no fear.

I beleave he is the biggest talent, the UK has. In athletics its hard, to train day in day out, and not go off the rails.

Especially if your athlete, who comes from a background of Mark Lewis Francis.

Its hard to get paid for doing your hobby? Hard to get paid for doing what you love? As MLF should realise now talent alone is not enough to win in international athletics.

Mark Lewis Francis is just young, and he will learn.

He needs to learn FAST or his career will pass him buy. He needs to accept one of the offers he (apparantley) had to train with some of the top coaches in the USA. That group environment, training with athletes who are both faster, and have acheived more than him can only make him faster, with his “aggresive
strength”?

Kelly Holmes should not go!

Yes she should!

She has’nt inspired me to do anything.

But she has inspired hundreds of others.