FTD Mag Issue 7 AG 6/8/08 10:38 Page 21
DL Feature
: Darren Campbell
MAGAZINE
Q. Injuries have been there throughout your Q. What about your relationships with your
career, but you always bounced back? coaches?
A. The mental strength comes from my mum. A. Malcolm Arnold was my first coach for a
She worked hard to give me opportunities, couple of years, and Linford Christie has always
giving up was never an option.When I picked up been involved. I met Linford when I was 15; he
a back injury in 1995 I couldn't sprint to the level was a figurehead for a competition to find the
I wanted to perform to, and I thought if I can't do fastest kid in Britain. I went to the final and came
it the way I want to do it there's no point. So at second to my cousin.
the age of 22 I retired from running and started
playing football again. We met Linford afterwards and it was brilliant
the way he treated us, he was so normal. Linford
I joined Cwmbran Town and found myself Christie and Colin Jackson formed Nuff-Respect
playing Welsh league football. A Liverpool scout and at 17 I was their first client.
saw a game and said he could get me trials. I
ended up at Plymouth Argyle where I played 8 I trained in Australia with Malcolm Arnold,
games and scored 10 goals; I was waiting for Linford Christie and Linford's coach Ron Roddan.
them to give me a contract but in the end I It was just a natural progression; both Linford
signed semi-pro at Weymouth. Shortly after I got and Ron really looked after me. I wanted to learn
a phone call from Neil Warnock, the manager at from the best to be the best.They could tell I was
Plymouth and he offered me a two year contract. good from my speed but also from my
I couldn’t get out of the contract at Weymouth; it confidence.
reminded again that in football you’re not in
control of your own destiny. I like to be in control of my own destiny. That
belief in yourself is what separates successful
I was at Weymouth for nearly a year, and then in sports-people, we win because when we train we
1995 with my back problem gone I made a know; I knew. That’s what sets you apart. You
decision. I called Linford to say I wanted to come have this belief and think – “I can do it!”
back and train with him. He didn’t think I was
serious about it, so I ended up going to the USA
Q. Do you translate this belief in sports the same
to train for 3 months before the 1996 Olympics.
way in your business?
The rest is history.
A. People you think are timewasters usually are
Q. Tell us about the Olympic Gold and Silver
timewasters. You can't get any further than a
Medals?
Gold medal. I use that acceptance, that mental
stability to believe in myself in business.
A. In Sydney 2000 the 200m was a surprise even
to me. I had the belief, but the race still had
I don't know it all, but you can't solve a problem
variables. I beat Christian Malcolm which a lot of
until you've got a problem. In athletics there is
people didn't expect because I only did the
always someone better than you but you can
200m for fun. It's was like training anyway and
learn from everyone.
the more races the better.
Q. Tell us about Street Athletics?
It nearly didn't happen because at first the
selectors didn't want me to do the 200m. They
A. I set up Street Athletics with Linford four
didn't want anyone doubling and wanted me to
years ago. We go to deprived areas and set up
focus on the 100m and the relay. I got 6th in the
sprint races in local parks or streets to help
100m, we dropped the baton in the 4X1, but I
young people perform. We set up a 60 metre
won Silver in the 200m.
track near Manchester Town Hall for the final and
the winners got a year’s sponsorship from
With the 4x1 in Athens 2004 I had to get it for the
Reebok.
other three guys as well, (Jason Gardener, Marlon
Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis.) We made a
Q. What advice do you have for our junior
mistake in the heats and were nearly
athletes today?
disqualified, but we made it into the final. On the
bus back to the village I asked them 'Have you
thought that we could actually be Olympic
A. You need a mentor, someone to answer your
Champions?'
questions. That's why Linford was so important
to me; he’d been there and done it.
Once I got the others thinking like that, anything
was possible. I believed we were going to win it.
With a mentor there are some mistakes you
Technically we were the best team, and
won’t make because they have been there
technique always wins over talent. It's about
already and will stop you from making them.
how you cope under pressure and we put them
under pressure. After I passed the baton I didn't
watch the end of the race, I said a prayer. Another
athlete tapped me on the shoulder and said “I
think you're going to win it."
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