10 February 2023 , 12:39
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Linford Christie says he is "broken" after the death of his revered former sprinting coach Ron Roddan.
Former Team GB Olympic sprinter Christie confirmed Roddan had passed away in an emotional Instagram tribute on Friday morning.
Christie captioned the post "Broken R I E P RON “Rocket” RODDAN," along with a picture of them both smiling on the track.
And two-time Team GB Olympic sprinter Margaret Adeoye also shared a photo with Roddan with the caption: “My heart is broken. RIP.”
'Rocket' was one of the most admired coaches in British athletics history and famously guided legendary sprinter Christie to the top of his sport.
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Roddan, a Civil Service lab assistant before his coaching days, developed his skills as a coach at Thames Valley Harriers and began working with talented teenager Christie in 1979.
The duo worked together at the West London Stadium, now named after Christie, where Roddan would help nurture his client's burgeoning talent.
Christie won his first major medal aged 26 and then went onto become Britain's most decorated sprinter, claiming Olympic, World Championship, European and Commonwealth gold medals.
And the zenith came at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when Roddan coached Christie to 100 metres gold. He became the oldest Olympic champion aged 32 in the most prestigious event in athletics.
Iconic coach Roddan has been credited for helping Christie's talent to flourish, while he has also helped dozens of other young British hopefuls realise their dreams of making it onto the Team GB athletics team.
He has been since been recognised for his dedication to coaching, being honoured with the national Performance Coach award at the England Athletics Hall of Fame and National Volunteer Awards in 2010.
Roddan was also awarded with London's Regional Council Performance Coach of the Year Award in 2011.