Colin Jackson's hidden problem, 'horrendous body' issue and new life now at 58

Wales Online

2 days ago

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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".
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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.
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"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."
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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.
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"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.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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"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..