Colin Jackson's hidden problem, 'horrendous body' issue and new life now at 58
Colin Jackson had an illustrious sporting career, but behind the scenes he was struggling with bulimia and body dysmorphia, as well as panic attacks in his last years of competition
After retiring, Colin Jackson has gone on to mentor other athletes and become a sports commentator and presenter
(Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved )
Olympian Colin Jackson has candidly shared his personal battles with mental health, body dysmorphia and bulimia.
Jackson, a Cardiff resident aged 58, boasts an impressive track record in the athletics world, clinching medals on Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European stages, while setting world records, including one that remained unbeaten for over a decade.
Yet behind the triumphs, he disclosed his rigorous food restriction during competition and his struggles with bulimia—a condition that involves binge-eating followed by purging to prevent weight gain.
Additionally, as Colin neared his retirement at age 36 in 2003, he faced severe panic attacks, which he described as having sensations comparable to "a heart attack" and leading him to "burst into sweat".
Through time, support, and mastering coping "tools" such as breathing exercises, Colin has navigated past many of these hurdles and now seeks to "give back" by promoting greater dialogues about mental health, particularly among men.
In collaboration with SPAR for its latest summer initiative, SPARk A Conversation, Colin is on the cusp of launching his personal app named Track, Field and Life this month.
Article continues below
The app, which will share sports results, insightful advice, and narratives from fellow athletes, aims to establish a "safe place" for open communication and mutual "celebration", according to Colin.
"For me, as an athlete, I was fortunate that people gave me time and they helped get the best from me, so now it's my time to do exactly the same thing," Colin shared with PA Real Life.
"If it culminates in something that's good, and it makes men talk, it makes people across the board look after themselves in a healthy manner, and I was part of that journey, I can have a sense of pride.
"I can happily go to my grave, knowing that, do you know what? You were successful there, and you did make a difference."
Jackson in action back in 2003
(Image: Rui Vieira/PA )
Colin "always loved" sport growing up but never envisioned himself pursuing a career as a professional athlete.
He excelled at many sports at school, before later focusing on athletics – and he said he enjoyed the "play element" of sport most of all.
"It was something I did as a kid and I had fun doing it, so that's where my real sporting background began," he explained.
Colin said he knew he had an "innate ability" and, by nurturing this, his skills improved rapidly.
Along with the challenge of sport itself, he enjoyed setting "personal goals" every year and was determined to achieve them.
He won his first major medal, a silver, aged 19, in the 110m hurdles at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, and he won a silver medal at his first Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988, followed by European and Commonwealth gold medals in 1990.
He later set a world record of 12.91 seconds in the 110-metre hurdles in 1993, which stood for 13 years.
Discussing his sporting career highs, Colin revealed: "I've never really had one.
"It sounds bizarre – you make history in your sport, fantastic, no doubt about it, that's brilliant – but every single year of my athletic career, we were always goal orientated.
"You had to achieve something in that year and, as long as you achieved what you set out to achieve, then that box was ticked."
Colin is hoping to encourage more open conversations (@Wearedusk/PA Real Life)
Colin remarked on how people are continually seeking the next triumph, the forthcoming landmark, without "appreciating what (they're) achieving at this moment in time".
During his competitive days, he admitted to often comparing himself to fellow athletes and contended with body dysmorphia, thinking he appeared "horrendous".
He shared that competitors were commonly underweight and he was "blinded by the norm", leading him to eat less and ultimately developing bulimia.
On reflecting upon older photographs, he can now see he was in "really good shape" and aims to encourage more discussions about these issues to assist others.
"When that's your norm around you, then you get blinded by the norm," he commented.
"It's just like having a beautiful view every single day of your life, you don't see the beauty.
"It's exactly the same in professional sport, in that sense, you're sheltered.
"I describe it as living in fantasy land... you have no real understanding."
As Colin neared his retirement in 2003 at the age of 36, he admitted feeling "anxious", facing panic attacks and initially wondered: "What am I going to do with my time?".
But he soon recognised how "blessed" and "action-packed" those years had been, coming to the conclusion that he had to "stop worrying about what's around the corner".
"Don't be so anxious," he advised.
"Life, whatever path is laid out for you, you will go down."
Colin Jackson of Wales celebrates a silver after the Men's 110 metres Hurdles Final at the City of Manchester Stadium during the 2002 Commonwealth Games
(Image: Getty Images Sport )
He continued, offering wisdom to others in his position, saying: "If I was going to give advice to anybody who's going to retire from their sport now, I'd say, don't be forced out of your sport.
"You will know when you're ready and take the step... and don't think you're going through it on your own."
With a wealth of support having contributed to his success, Colin felt compelled to "give that back" after hanging up his boots.
His post-retirement journey has led him to roles as a mentor to upcoming athletes, sports commentator and presenter, and more recently, partnering with SPAR for its summertime initiative, SPARk A Conversation.
Interesting findings from a study by AF Blakemore, the UK's leading SPAR distributor, disclosed that a staggering 84% of British men favour firing up the barbecue over discussing their genuine feelings.
SPAR is collaborating with four local mental health charities – Ways for Wellbeing, Mental Health Matters Wales, Tough Enough to Care and YESS – and has developed a tip sheet, offering advice on how to create "small, meaningful moments", such as starting conversations lightly to encourage people to open up, and emphasising the significance of listening.
Jackson, passionate about discussing topics like sport and mental health, has developed his own app named Track, Field and Life, set to launch this month.
He explained that the app will include advice, quick updates on sports events, and stories from fellow athletes, aiming to foster "celebration" rather than criticism.
Jackson recognises the tragic loss of too many men at a young age due to poor mental health and expressed his commitment to changing this narrative.
"We try to get everybody who's involved in athletics to actually find a safe place for them," Colin remarked.
Article continues below
"I want people to be part of an amazing family and truly connect. I have created something that connects everybody in our family of sport."
For further details about the campaign, please visit: spar.co.uk/spark-the-bbq..
If you're seeking advice and support on eating disorders, Beat's website can be accessed here: beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/i-need-support-now/helplines..
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
26 minutes ago
- Sky News
This sport has a self-confessed safety problem - could flashing mouthguards be the answer?
Rugby chiefs have admitted to Sky News their sport is not "incredibly safe" due to the "high risk of injuries", while insisting players should be encouraged they are prioritising addressing concussion concerns. The candour on the dangers from head collisions comes ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup starting in England next week. At that tournament, for the first time at a World Cup, smart mouthguards will flash red if they detect potential concussions that require further assessment by measuring the force and movement from a head impact. "We could stick our head in the sand and pretend something doesn't exist, but that's not going to help anybody," World Rugby science and medical manager Dr Lindsay Starling told Sky News. "It is a sport that has a high risk of injuries and that comes from the physical contact nature of the game, which is also what we all love about watching it. And so that can't be ignored. "We can't pretend that the sport is incredibly safe and there's no risk of injury. And so by creating more awareness when there has been a substantial head knock, that's important to educate people." There is an expectation one player per match could be removed due to potential head injury at the World Cup, which opens with England playing the US in Sunderland next Friday. Players would then leave the pitch for a head injury assessment. Footage is then analysed to see how steady players are after the impact. Then they would be asked a series of questions to test memory and concentration. Players are asked to remember words from a list read out and to repeat numbers in a different sequence. A critical time for rugby Rugby being so candid about the potential risks from head injuries comes as the sport is facing legal action from more than 700 mostly male former players who claim leaders were negligent in failing to take reasonable action to protect them from brain injuries. The case is progressing slowly with challenges, including around historic medical records. "Concussion is obviously incredibly serious," Dr Starling said at the England team HQ at Twickenham. "It's absolutely our number one priority in terms of understanding why they happen and doing what we can to reduce that. "The other side of that argument, though, is that we know this information. It would be more scary or more of a worry if we didn't know that." World Rugby believes female players are more susceptible to being concussed than their male counterparts but at "much lower magnitudes". They are still exploring why. It could be due to physical differences in neck strength and blood flow metabolic rates, or it could combine with female players accessing more technical training later on. Parental concern over women's game But how does the spectre of brain injuries chime with the mission of the World Cup to super-charge the women's game in England, by expanding the audience and encouraging youngsters to play? Especially with those flashing mouthguards warning of potential concussions. Dr Starling admits it creates a concern. But to parents doubting whether their children should take up rugby, there's an attempt to offer some reassurances from those overseeing safety, citing enhanced technology. "We've never been in a situation where we know more about what the risk is," World Rugby chief medical officer Dr Eanna Falvey told Sky News. "That will improve over time, so our job is to give parents the autonomy to make a decision that they can about their daughter's playing. Ferocity at the heart of rugby "If their daughter wants to play, we want to help them arrive at a decision that they're happy with the level of exposure the daughter has and what they can do about it. "There's a lot of health dangers from not being involved in sport. Physical inactivity is the biggest health concern in the Western world right now. "So being involved with team sport has huge benefits." And Prof Falvey emphasised the essence of rugby is, at times, the ferocity. "It's a contact sport," he said. "Nobody shies away from that fact. I think people who play the game play it because they want to play contact sports. Our job is to make that game as safe as we can."
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Gianluigi Donnarumma open to move away from PSG amid reported Man Utd interest
The Italian goalkeeper has been left out of PSG's squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup match against Tottenham, and it is understood he will now leave Paris this summer if the right move opens up. Manchester United have been linked in some reports with an interest in the 26-year-old, who is out of contract next summer. However, it is understood that up to this point there has been no contact from United to PSG regarding Donnarumma. The European champions completed the signing of Lucas Chevalier from Lille over the weekend, and Donnarumma has now been left out for the game against Spurs in Udine. Donnarumma was part of the Italy squad which won Euro 2020 by beating England in the final on penalties, and is still regarded as one of the world's top goalkeepers. He made over 200 appearances for AC Milan before joining PSG in 2021. He has won four Ligue 1 titles with the Parisiens and was part of the team which thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 to win last season's Champions League title.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
How to add three years to your life with 20-minute daily habit anyone can do
A leading longevity researcher has revealed that the secret to living well into your 80s, 90s, or even past 100 has nothing to do with expensive supplements, trendy diets or gruelling gym sessions. Instead, he says, the biggest boost to your lifespan comes from something free, simple and available to almost everyone - and it takes just 20 minutes a day. Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow who has spent decades studying the habits and diets of the world's longest-living people, says walking is the most powerful tool we have for adding years to our lives. 'There's no pill, there's no supplement, no longevity hack that's been shown to add years to your life expectancy,' Buettner revealed on Instagram. 'But there's one simple thing that most people can do to get three more years. 'If you're sedentary, if you move from getting zero physical activity to just 20 minutes of walking a day, it adds three years to your life expectancy. 'Very simple hack, costs you nothing, and we'll see you when you're 100.' Walking is not just low-impact and accessible - it also works the cardiovascular system, improves circulation, boosts mood, and can even reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Research consistently links daily movement to improved quality of life, particularly in older adults. Studies show that regular walking can also help maintain mobility, balance, and independence well into old age. The 'Blue Zones' connection Buettner is best known for identifying the so-called Blue Zones - regions around the world where people routinely live past 100, including parts of Japan, Italy, Costa Rica, and Greece. One thing these long-living communities share is they walk - a lot. Not necessarily in the form of intense workouts, but also through built-in, everyday movement like walking to the market, tending gardens, or visiting friends. Experts have previously said that you don't need to run marathons to be healthy, but you do need to walk - and you need to do it every day. Buettner also previously highlighted the unexpected snack food that Dan says you can enjoy guilt-free to have a long life: popcorn. 'The best longevity snack might already be in your pantry,' teased a caption accompanying the video. The food in question? Air-popped popcorn. 'Let me tell you about the best snack that you can eat to live to 100 - but you can also afford,' Dan said. 'Popcorn. Air-popped popcorn.' The American researcher said there are some little-known health benefits to the humble snack. 'It's very high in fibre. It's very high in complex carbohydrates,' Dan said in the video. 'It even has more polyphenols than a lot of vegetables - people don't realize that.' The author of The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living like the World's Healthiest People added in his latest video that the beauty of popcorn is that it's also budget-friendly. 'Everybody can afford it,' he said. How to make air-popped popcorn 1. Add 5tbsp of oil to a medium size saucepan with a lid over a medium high heat 2. Once hot, add ½ cup of corn kernels and cover with the lid 3. Once the popping starts, shake the pot regularly until the popping ceases 4. Remove from the heat and empty into a large bowl, discarding any un-popped kernels Popping Corn Kernels 400g packs are currently sold at both Coles and Woolworths for $1.75. Dan concluded in the 28-second video that popcorn was an 'easy' and accessible snack. 'It is easy to make. It's easy to store. And most importantly, it's delicious,' Dan said. Homemade air-popped popcorn is distinct from store-bought packets, microwave popcorn or movie popcorn, in that it's made using no added ingredients beyond being cooked in a small amount of hot oil. Although Dan didn't make specific mention of it in his video, it is fair to presume that he recommends enjoying air-popped popcorn without the addition of any other added ingredients like salt or butter. The latest video has notched up over 726,000 views on TikTok, with many commenters excited by the findings. 'My favourite snack! Pop mine in avocado oil!' one popcorn lover replied on Instagram. 'Glad I'm already doing that as my weekly habit using olive oil!' added another. 'The best! I spray mine with pickle juice and season with garlic powder, salt, and cayenne pepper. Skip the butter & oil,' one more suggested. However, a few commenters cautioned that popcorn - specifically un-popped kernels - are often highlighted by dentists as a food to avoid on account of its potential to chip or break teeth.
