<p>Linford Christie set the track ablaze every time he ran a sprint race. He is the only Briton to have won Gold in the 100-metre category at the Olympics. <br /><br /></p>.<p>He was quite a craze among women and young athletes who looked up to him and continue to do so.<br /><br />After he tested positive for dope, a ban was slapped on him and he had to hang his shoes unceremoniously. But Christie professes his innocence to this day. <br /><br />“I didn’t do anything. If people want to believe that I’ve taken drugs, they can. My conscience is clear and I have forgiven all those who gave me a tough time. Life is too short for any regrets or even to dwell in the past,” he said.<br /><br />Now 52, Christie looks fitter and sounds more positive than ever before. He handles all the uncomfortable questions about his past with a smile even as people around click pictures with him and try to exchange a few words. <br /><br />The soft-spoken man has always been passionate about two things — his sport and gardening. Get him to talk about the two and he can go on for hours together. <br /><br />Christie confesses that he loves gardening, something he picked up years ago, “I love being in my garden. It’s a kind of getaway. I could stay in there for hours and still want to be left in my garden,” he says.<br /><br />Christie now trains young athletes. “This year’s Olympics is riding faster than ever before. There are a lot of promising young people. I train young people and I believe that I must lead by example.<br /><br /> So even today, I lead the life of a sportsman. I exercise and run but now I don’t run as fast as I used to but try and cover a decent distance,” he laughs.<br /><br />About the IPL and the slew of controversies surrounding it, Christie wonders why people make such a hue and cry about that. “There are controversies everywhere. Anything popular will be accompanied by controversy,” he avers.<br /><br />Christie loves food and says that he eats everything in moderation. “I keep away from red meat and have as much of chicken, fruits and vegetables — all in the right doses,” he informs.<br /><br />About people in India, he says, “I’ve noticed that the ordinary people here smile even amidst adversities. I relate well to the people here because they’re a lot like my people back home.”<br /></p>
<p>Linford Christie set the track ablaze every time he ran a sprint race. He is the only Briton to have won Gold in the 100-metre category at the Olympics. <br /><br /></p>.<p>He was quite a craze among women and young athletes who looked up to him and continue to do so.<br /><br />After he tested positive for dope, a ban was slapped on him and he had to hang his shoes unceremoniously. But Christie professes his innocence to this day. <br /><br />“I didn’t do anything. If people want to believe that I’ve taken drugs, they can. My conscience is clear and I have forgiven all those who gave me a tough time. Life is too short for any regrets or even to dwell in the past,” he said.<br /><br />Now 52, Christie looks fitter and sounds more positive than ever before. He handles all the uncomfortable questions about his past with a smile even as people around click pictures with him and try to exchange a few words. <br /><br />The soft-spoken man has always been passionate about two things — his sport and gardening. Get him to talk about the two and he can go on for hours together. <br /><br />Christie confesses that he loves gardening, something he picked up years ago, “I love being in my garden. It’s a kind of getaway. I could stay in there for hours and still want to be left in my garden,” he says.<br /><br />Christie now trains young athletes. “This year’s Olympics is riding faster than ever before. There are a lot of promising young people. I train young people and I believe that I must lead by example.<br /><br /> So even today, I lead the life of a sportsman. I exercise and run but now I don’t run as fast as I used to but try and cover a decent distance,” he laughs.<br /><br />About the IPL and the slew of controversies surrounding it, Christie wonders why people make such a hue and cry about that. “There are controversies everywhere. Anything popular will be accompanied by controversy,” he avers.<br /><br />Christie loves food and says that he eats everything in moderation. “I keep away from red meat and have as much of chicken, fruits and vegetables — all in the right doses,” he informs.<br /><br />About people in India, he says, “I’ve noticed that the ordinary people here smile even amidst adversities. I relate well to the people here because they’re a lot like my people back home.”<br /></p>
