Achievements
As of 2009, Christie's British record of 9.87 seconds in the 100 metres makes him the second fastest European in history; second only to Francis Obikwelu's 9.86 s personal best which broke Christie's European record. His 100 m personal best fares favourably in comparison with his contemporaries: Carl Lewis and Frankie Fredericks managed 9.86 s while Leroy Burrell ran 9.85 s.
His gold medal performances in world, European, Commonwealth and Olympic competitions rank him as one of the most successful 100 m sprinters in international events. He won 10 gold medals and a total of 24 medals over his career in major championships; the record for any British male athlete. He was the third Briton, after Harold Abrahams and Allan Wells, and the fifth European to win the 100 m at the Olympic Games. He remains the oldest male athlete to win the 100 m at the Olympics.
In the 4 x 100 metres relay event Christie's performance as anchor, alongside Colin Jackson, Tony Jarrett and John Regis, set a European record of 37.77 s at the 1993 World Championships. This was beaten six years later by a 37.73 s run by a British team, which included his protégé Darren Campbell. However, Christie's team's performance is still the second fastest 4 x 100 m performance by a European team and one of the best by a non-United States relay team.
Over 60 metres, Christie set a European record of 6.47 s in 1995 which was beaten by fellow Briton Jason Gardener in 1999 with 6.46 s. Christie has the fourth fastest time over the distance for a European after Gardener, Ronald Pognon and the current European record holder Dwain Chambers.
Christie also holds 3 current 35–39 masters age group world records. On 23 September 1995, Christie set the current M35 world record of 9.97 in the 100 metres. On 25 June 1995 he set the current M35 world record in the 200 metres in 20.11 seconds and on 3 January 1997 Christie set the current indoor record in the M35 60 metres in a time of 6.51 seconds.
In 2010, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame.
| Date | Event | Venue | Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 February 1995 | 60 metres | Liévin, France | 6.47 |
| 15 August 1993 | 100 metres | Stuttgart, Germany | 9.87 (UK national record) |
| 4 September 1994 | 150 metres | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 14.97 |
| 28 September 1988 | 200 metres | Seoul, South Korea | 20.09 |
| 1988 | 300 metres | ? | 33.80 |
| 1991 | 400 metres | ? | 47.75 |
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