Colin Jackson showing all his World Championships medals (© Getty Images)
Colin Jackson, World record holder at both the indoor and outdoor sprint hurdles who retired earlier this year, yesterday received a CBE at Buckingham Palace (Wednesday 10 Dec).
The 1993 and 1999 World 110m Hurdles champion carried out his long held plan to retire from athletics competition immediately after competing at the World Indoor championships over 60m Hurdles in Birmingham, UK, on Sunday 16 March, an event in which he finished fifth.
Jackson who won the World Indoor title in 1999 and finished second over 110 Hurdles at the 1988 Olympics, still holds the World records for the Indoor 60m Hurdles (7.30, set in 1994) and for the outdoor 110m Hurdles event (12.91), the latter which he set when winning the 1993 World title in Stuttgart.
For the 36 year-old Welshman, who now works as a BBC TV commentator, yesterday’s investiture in London marked the third time that he has been honoured by Britain. The award of the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) follows on from the MBE (Member of the British Empire) and OBE (Order of the British Empire) which were bestowed on him in 1990 and 1999 respectively.
"I thought I would be quite cool, but it is just amazing how the emotions kick in," the BBC quoted Jackson as saying after the award ceremony.
"I'd been at the top in athletics for 18 years, so it's a whole new lifestyle for me now."
BBC and IAAF