Mark Richardson

For the past decade Mark Richardson has been one of the World’s leading 400m athletes.

Mark was attracted to athletics by the achievements of Carl Lewis at the 1984 Olympics. He confirmed the rich promise that he showed as a junior, and consolidated a place amongst the world’s best 400m runners, ranking in the world’s top six in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999.

After gold and silver at the European Juniors, he won relay medals as a reserve and achieved World gold in 1991 and Olympic bronze 1992. He was 5th in the 1995 World Championships 400m, but had to withdraw from the relay team through illness.

At the 1996 Olympics his 43.62 for the 3rd leg in the final was the fastest split at the Games and the fastest ever run by a British runner. He ran personal bests in the finals of both 1995 and 1997 World Championships.

In 1999 he ran a season’s best of 44.47 in his semi-final at the World Championships before taking his third successive top six placing in the final.

He ran a solid 45.26 anchor leg on his reappearance for Britain at the European Cup and then had a fine win in windy conditions in Glasgow. He ran 45.79 in retaining his AAA title and 45.22 for a win at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix, but a further improvement to 45.14 was not quite enough to make the final at the World Championships.

Mark is no stranger to the spotlight, and has appeared as a guest on shows including A Question of Sport, They Think It Is All Over, Blue Peter, Grandstand and Sky Sports.