Ron Roddan
Encyclopedia
Ron Roddan was the coach of Linford Christie
OBE
, the former sprinter from the United Kingdom
, who he began coaching in 1979. A former Civil Service
laboratory assistant, Roddan was himself a sprinter in the Fifties and Sixties. During his coaching career, he has had more than 30 athletes selected for the British team. Currently, Roddan coaches Rachel Christie
, Linford's niece, who is a former winner of the Miss England
beauty pageant.
Roddan first met Christie while the sprinter was attending school in Fulham
, London
.
Speaking in a High Court libel hearing in 1998, Roddan told the jury that a magazine article by John McVicar
alleging Linford Christie took drugs to get to the top was a "fairy story", describing a suggestion that the Olympic
gold medallist's impressive physique may have been due to taking steroids or other performance-enhancing banned substances
as "ridiculous". In 2001, in response to claims by claims by Sebastian Coe that Christie's time as British athletic captain was marred by "continual conflict," Roddan said he was "surprised that someone of such so-called brevity would come out with a load of rubbish like this" and insisted that Christie enjoyed the support of his fellow athletes in the various British athletic teams that he competed in.
In February 2011, Roddan received London’s Regional Council Performance Coach of the Year Award. Prior to this, in October 2010, he had received the national Performance Coach award at the England Athletics Hall of Fame and National Volunteer Awards.
Linford Christie
Linford Cicero Christie OBE is a former sprinter from the United Kingdom. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games...
OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, the former sprinter from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, who he began coaching in 1979. A former Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
laboratory assistant, Roddan was himself a sprinter in the Fifties and Sixties. During his coaching career, he has had more than 30 athletes selected for the British team. Currently, Roddan coaches Rachel Christie
Rachel Christie
Rachel Sophia Adina Christie is a British beauty pageant contestant and athlete who was briefly Miss England 2009, and the first black mixed race woman to hold the title.-Personal:...
, Linford's niece, who is a former winner of the Miss England
Miss England
The Miss England competition is an annual beauty pageant targeted at young females aged 17–24 years living in England. Entrants must hold a British passport to enter....
beauty pageant.
Roddan first met Christie while the sprinter was attending school in Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Speaking in a High Court libel hearing in 1998, Roddan told the jury that a magazine article by John McVicar
John McVicar
John McVicar is a British journalist and one-time convicted armed robber.-Career:In the 1960s, he was an armed robber who was tagged "Public Enemy No. 1" by Scotland Yard. He was apprehended and given a 23-year jail sentence. He escaped from prison on several occasions and after his final...
alleging Linford Christie took drugs to get to the top was a "fairy story", describing a suggestion that the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medallist's impressive physique may have been due to taking steroids or other performance-enhancing banned substances
Performance-enhancing drugs
Performance-enhancing drugs are substances used by athletes to improve their performances in the sports in which they engage.- Types of performance-enhancing drugs :...
as "ridiculous". In 2001, in response to claims by claims by Sebastian Coe that Christie's time as British athletic captain was marred by "continual conflict," Roddan said he was "surprised that someone of such so-called brevity would come out with a load of rubbish like this" and insisted that Christie enjoyed the support of his fellow athletes in the various British athletic teams that he competed in.
In February 2011, Roddan received London’s Regional Council Performance Coach of the Year Award. Prior to this, in October 2010, he had received the national Performance Coach award at the England Athletics Hall of Fame and National Volunteer Awards.