Kriss Akabusi

A prince of the Igbo tribe of Nigeria, Kriss Akabusi was born in London and grew up in a children’s home when his parents returned to Nigeria after independence. He joined the British Army at the age of 17 and did not make his international début until 1982 when he was already 24-years-old.

As a 400 runner he was never quite able to compete at the very highest level as an individual but was an invaluable member of the 4×400 relay team through his career. He was a member of the team that won the silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, the European Championship winning team of 1990 and England’s Commonwealth Games gold medal team also in 1990. In 1987 he decided to take up the 400 intermediate hurdles and, in his first season in the event, reached the World Championship final. Akabusi placed sixth in the Olympic final in 1988 then won the double of Commonwealth Games and European Championships in 1990. The latter championship was won in 47.92 seconds which handed him the British record which had stood since the 1968 Olympics. He again broke the record in placing third at the 1991 World Championships and for a third time when he finished in the same position at the 1992 Olympic Games. The 1991 World Championship was also the setting for probably his most memorable performance. With Great Britain trailing the USA at the start of the final leg of 4×400 relay, Akabusi was matched against newly crowned world 400 m champion Antonio Pettigrew. The American led for 350 metres but Akabusi kept close behind before pulling out to overtake Pettigrew and record one of the biggest upsets in the history of the championships. The Americans took revenge at the 1992 Olympics but Akabusi’s team did enough to win the bronze medal. A popular and ebullient presence on the athletics scene, he retired in 1993 and pursued a career as a television presenter and motivational speaker. Akabusi also sits on the board of charities in both Britain and Nigeria.

Personal Bests: 400 – 44.93 (1988); 400H – 47.82 (1992).