By Donna Richardson
Olympic silver medallist Jamie Baulch exemplifies the true spirit of the Games, displaying humility and authenticity throughout his remarkable journey to Olympic success at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Dedication to his sport, talent and the unwavering support of his adoptive parents helped him achieve this success.
Jamie says that had he not been adopted and with their loving support, he may never have discovered the talent that led to a silver medal in the 4x400m relay in Atlanta at the age of 23, before becoming world indoor champion three years later.
Born in Nottingham, Jamie was raised in Risca, near Newport, after Alan and Marilyn gave him a fabulous start in life, nurturing his sprinting talent from an early age. Jamie emerged as an exciting talent through unwavering dedication and hard work and ascended the sporting ranks. Guidance and training, first from Olympic and world champion Linford Christie and then the legendary hurdler Colin Jackson, played a pivotal role in his achievements.
Jamie’s journey to Olympic success began when he was 11 years old during an obstacle race on sports day at junior school. His headmaster, recognising his talent, encouraged him to join the running club. Despite being short for a sprinter at the time, 5ft 8, Jamie began to catch up to older competitors through hard work and perseverance and by the time he was an adult, 5 ft 9 and a half, he was winning races where opponents were over 6ft. At 17, he competed in the European Championships and reached the 200m final. His first coach was Mr Fluck, and he later trained with Jim Anderson (known to everyone as Jock as he was Scottish), who had coached other successful athletes. Jamie’s first major competition was the 1994 Commonwealth Games, where he represented Wales.
Jamie recalls being in the room of the legendary hurdler and Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson in 1994. Colin’s friend, a fellow athlete named Paul Gray, won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games that same year in the 110 metres and 400 metres hurdles. When Colin announced, “Jamie, how would you like me to be your coach?” Jamie was stunned. Just a year earlier, Colin had broken the world record for the 110m hurdles and won the world title, so it was an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.
“He said to me, ‘I’ve got a house in Florida you can come over to, you’ll be training with Linford Christie, Merlene Otty, Frankie Fredricks, Paul Gray and Darren Campbell.’ At the time, these were some of the fastest people on the planet, so I jumped at the chance.”
Within a few years, Jamie transformed from a talented athlete to the world’s best in his field. Winning the world indoors in Japan was a significant milestone for Jamie, and he immediately called his dad to share the exciting news. He said: “My favourite competition ever for feeling amazing was in 1999 in Japan, where I became the fastest person on the planet. When I did that lap of honour, I entered the infield and had my phone ring my mum and dad. My dad asked me how it went: I said, “Dad, your son is the world champion, and I cried on the phone.
“My dad isn’t a crier, but he just burst into tears out of pure love for me and the sacrifices he had put in. He took me to training in the rain, wind and shine – an act of true love.”
“It was even more important to me because I was adopted. That was the most special moment in my career because my mum and dad have given me so many opportunities, and they still do. If it wasn’t for them not only picking me up at the adoption home but also giving me that unwavering support and love, I don’t know what would have happened. I probably wouldn’t have been sitting here with an Olympic medal and 12 other major medals if it weren’t for them. I know that they know it, and they captured that moment on camera. It’s those moments in life which are just so incredible. We all show the sunny side of life, but as we all know, life is not easy.”
His commitment to success led him to sacrifice time away from his family and endure rigorous training, ultimately earning him an Olympic medal. As he reflects on the demanding and challenging road to success and his sons now thriving in their pursuits, he is reminded of the invaluable traits of self-motivation and determination.
“Looking back at my journey, I am both amazed and proud of the dedication it took to become the best in the world in what I do.
“In late ‘94 and ‘95, I was training. By 1996, I earned an Olympic medal. Success breeds success. I went from being a good athlete to being the world’s best at what I did in a few years. It didn’t take me too long to be in that group to fulfil my talent.”
“I’d be away for six months of the year in warm-weather training, and at the same time, my then partner was pregnant with my first son, Jay.
“So, even though it was lovely being away with Linford, Colin, and all these athletes, I had a son at home whom I missed, so it was hard. But that’s the sacrifices you have to make to become the best.
“You won’t be the best if you don’t sacrifice, commit, and do uncomfortable things. Being an Olympian is one thing, but winning an Olympic medal is another, and to attain greatness, there is a price.
“It’s crazy what you’ve got to do to become that number one in the world, it’s a commitment like nothing other, training on Christmas Day, being sick every other day, and getting up in the cold when you’re not warm-weather training. Athletics looks pretty on the telly when it is all smiles, crossing the line, and putting your arms in the air, but the long and short of it is hard. I look back as a 52-year-old and think, how did I do that? Would I want to put myself through the hard work? But it was worth it.”
Jamie has two sons, Jay and Morgan. “Jay has made me a grandad now. My sons have thrived. Jay owns his own company, and Morgan, my youngest, performed in MJ the musical in the West End until recently. There are some crossovers because Morgan would train and dance, and he would self-motivate. He naturally wanted to do it for himself, which does remind me of me. He naturally wants to do it for himself. My dad didn’t have to push me. Colin Jackson didn’t have to force me to do that last repetition that would make me sick because I was trying my body so hard.
Jamie was called the Flying Pineapple in the nineties due to his blonde dreadlocks. He made headlines off the track when Wella sponsored him. He said, “I loved the attention I got from winning for the right reasons. I never forget that my fans helped me win that medal by cheering me on. Everyone who knows me from school knows I am the same as I always was.”
When Jamie retired from athletics, he established several businesses, including Definitive, a sports management company, and Authentic Sports, a sports memorabilia company.
Now Jamie and his long-term partner, Cheryl Hicks are a dynamic duo. Both are successful in their own right, collaborating in business and travelling the world together. Cheryl runs Call Bruce, a talent agency representing some of the best past and present athletes. Last year, she organised an Olympic launch event for the exclusive Anda Barut Collection hotel in Didim, featuring Denise Lewis and other Olympic giants. This year, the exclusive Wellness Worldwide event took place between May 7 and 11, with Paula Radcliffe, Rebecca Adlington, Vicky Thornley, Ric Egington, Leon Taylor, Jamie Baulch, Daley Thompson, and Colin Jackson all back, along with the Strictly stars Ian Waite, Ola and James Jordan. This year, Jess Ennis and Max Whitlock joined the crew.
In addition to hosting events such as this, Jamie continues to raise money for his fundraising platform uWin and silent auction hosting company BidAid, channelling some of the profits back into helping adopted children.
When he got older, Jamie went in search of his birth parents, capturing his journey on a documentary – Being Jamie Baulch – looking for his birth mum and was successful. He discovered that his mum, Teresa, had watched his journey on TV but never knew it was her son. They spent two years together getting to know each other, but sadly, Theresa died two years later.
However, Jamie is grateful that he got to spend time with her and cherishes the memories they made. However, searches for his birth dad have been fruitless, although his Jamaican heritage may have contributed to his natural success. He credits the nurture of his adopted parents to his overall success.
He said: “It could be that my talent was passed down to me in my genes, but I agree you can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t nurture that and give yourself the equipment to nurture that talent. My birth mother, Teresa, would have struggled. We had that conversation, and possibly had I stayed with her, I would have been running very fast from the police. It’s like the film Sliding Doors, often you think what would have happened in another parallel world.”
He held the British and European relay records for 28 years with his teammates Iwan Thomas and Mark Richardson, and still has the indoor record. Now, 29 years after Atlanta, he looks back at the Olympics with the same awe and wonder as he did then, but is ready to hand the baton to the next generation.
I met Jamie and his partner Cheryl on a holiday in St Lucia, during an exercise class led by Derek Redmond. After making friends, I was invited to join them and some of Britain’s greatest Olympians at the €150m resort. Jamie’s boot camp was a major highlight where he was joined by Colin Jackson, double decathlon Olympic champion Daley Thompson, Denise Lewis last year, Jess Ennis and Max Whitlock this year.
Despite being an Olympic silver medallist, Jamie Baulch has faced adversity and worked hard to realise his dreams and achieve his well-deserved success. He remains a top person who has not lost his head. He loves to laugh and truly is the life and soul of the party. He is one of the nicest and funniest people I know, with a heart of gold. The banter he shares with the athletes and their longstanding friendships is wonderful to witness. All the Olympians he introduced me to were just like him – genuine, kind-hearted individuals. They are truly “golden people.”, helpful and friendly as well as motivational and inspiring. Sports people have little ego, despite their greatness and this is an essential life lesson I want my daughter to embrace: always strive to do your very best and surround yourself with winners, but remain grounded. Jamie epitomises this. As Jamie wisely states, “success breeds success.”
It was an unforgettable journey, and mixing with athletes inspired my daughter as she learns about dedication, passion, the importance of support, and how sport can bring out these qualities and help her follow her dreams. This is the motivational power of sport and how it can inspire us, whatever our background.
