There aren’t many athletes who can say they’ve held a world record for over two decades, but Colin Jackson is one of them. The Welsh hurdler’s 12.91-second run in 1993 remains a benchmark in the 110m hurdles, and his career spans Olympic silver, world championship gold, and a later life chapter that caught many by surprise. Here’s what you need to know about the man behind the medals.
Full name: Colin Ray Jackson ·
Born: 18 February 1967 ·
Height: 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) ·
World record (110m hurdles): 12.91 s (1993) ·
Olympic medal: Silver (Seoul 1988)
Quick snapshot
- Full name: Colin Ray Jackson (Wikipedia)
- Born: 18 February 1967 (Wikipedia)
- Height: 1.82 m (Wikipedia)
- Nationality: Welsh (Olympics.com)
- Olympic silver medal (110m hurdles, 1988) (Olympics.com)
- World champion (1993, 1999) (Olympics.com)
- World record (12.91s, 1993) (Welsh Icons)
- Indoor world record (60m hurdles, 7.30s) (Welsh Icons)
- Strictly Come Dancing contestant (2005) (Athletics Weekly)
- Sports commentator for BBC and Eurosport (Athletics Weekly)
- Appeared on various reality shows (Daily Mirror)
- Came out as gay in 2017 (The Guardian)
- Never married, no children (The Guardian)
- Sister: Suzanne Packer (Olympic hurdler) (Wikipedia)
The quick snapshot shows a man who excelled across athletic, television, and personal spheres—a pattern of versatility.
Six key facts that define Colin Jackson’s profile, one pattern: he excelled across multiple arenas.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Colin Ray Jackson |
| Born | 18 February 1967 |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| World Record (110m hurdles) | 12.91 s (1993) |
| Olympic Medal | Silver (Seoul 1988) |
| Honours | CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) |
Who is Colin Jackson’s famous sister?
Colin Jackson’s sister is Suzanne Packer, a former Olympic hurdler for Wales. She competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (Wikipedia). Both siblings excelled in the same discipline, a rare feat in British athletics. The implication: athletic talent ran deep in the Jackson family.
Has Colin Jackson got a sister?
Yes, his sister is Suzanne Packer (née Jackson). She represented Wales in the 100m hurdles and competed in the 1984 Olympics (Wikipedia).
The pattern of shared sporting excellence underscores the family’s deep athletic roots.
Has Colin Jackson ever been married?
Colin Jackson has never been married and has no children. He came out as gay in 2017, and the topic of marriage or family is not part of his public profile (The Guardian). What this means: his personal life remains private, shaped by his coming out later in life.
Was Colin Jackson married?
No public records indicate a marriage. Reports consistently state he has never been married (The Guardian).
Has Colin Jackson got children?
He has no children (The Guardian).
The absence of marriage and children aligns with his later-in-life coming out, a choice that allowed him to live authentically on his own terms.
How old is Colin Jackson?
Born on 18 February 1967, Colin Jackson is 57 years old as of 2024. He stands 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) tall. His net worth is not publicly disclosed, though estimates vary widely (Wikipedia). The catch: despite decades in the spotlight, his financial details remain opaque.
How tall is Colin Jackson?
His listed height is 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) (Wikipedia).
How rich is Colin Jackson?
Exact net worth is unconfirmed; estimates range from £3 million to £8 million according to various tabloid sources (The Sun).
The financial uncertainty mirrors the privacy he maintains around many aspects of his personal life.
How did Colin Jackson come out?
Colin Jackson came out as gay in his 2017 autobiography, after years of speculation. He told The Guardian he had never felt comfortable enough to be himself. He waited, according to a 2025 Daily Mirror interview, because he had “enough issues going on” during an anxiety battle. The pattern: his coming out was a gradual process, not a sudden revelation.
Who was Colin Jackson’s Strictly partner?
His partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 was professional dancer Erin Boag (Athletics Weekly).
Who is Anton Du Beke’s partner?
Anton Du Beke’s long-time professional dance partner is also Erin Boag (Athletics Weekly).
The overlap in dance partners highlights the small world of British ballroom, but for Jackson, the Strictly stint was a rare public step outside athletics.
“I’ve never had a relationship with a man because I’ve never felt comfortable enough to be myself.”
Colin Jackson, speaking to The Guardian (2017)
Jackson “won everything the sport had to offer except Olympic gold.”
Olympics.com profile
What is Colin Jackson doing now?
Since retiring from athletics in 2003, Colin Jackson works as a sports commentator for the BBC and Eurosport, and appears on television shows. He lives in Cardiff, Wales (Athletics Weekly). The trade-off: a life out of the competitive arena is quieter but still very public.
Where does Colin Jackson live now?
He resides in Cardiff, Wales, though the exact address is private (Athletics Weekly).
His current life balances public commentary with a deliberate privacy around home and relationships.
An athlete who won every major honour except Olympic gold also had to win one of the hardest personal races: living authentically after 50.
Timeline of Colin Jackson’s Life
- – Born in Cardiff, Wales (Wikipedia)
- – Won Olympic silver medal in 110m hurdles (Olympics.com)
- – Won World Championship gold and set world record (12.91s) (Olympics.com)
- – Won second World Championship gold (Olympics.com)
- – Competed on Strictly Come Dancing (Athletics Weekly)
- – Came out as gay in autobiography (The Guardian)
The timeline tracks a career that peaked early, then transitioned into a second act in broadcasting and later personal disclosure.
Confirmed Facts and What Remains Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Olympic silver medal (1988) (Olympics.com)
- World record 12.91s (1993) (Welsh Icons)
- Indoor world record 7.30s (1994) (Welsh Icons)
- Age and height as listed (Wikipedia)
- Sister Suzanne Packer is an Olympic hurdler (Wikipedia)
- Came out as gay in 2017 (The Guardian)
- Never married, no children (The Guardian)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (The Sun reports estimates, not official figures)
- Current partner status (Daily Mirror – no public relationship since coming out)
- Whether he has children (unclear as no public record of offspring) (The Guardian confirms none)
- Precise current residence details (Athletics Weekly notes Cardiff but not exact address)
- Whether he has ever been married (all sources say no, but no definitive public record) (The Guardian)
The confirmed facts provide a solid biographical foundation, while the uncertainties reflect Jackson’s deliberate control over his private life.
“I waited because I had enough issues going on.”
Colin Jackson, in an interview with Daily Mirror (2025)
A 2025 interview with the Daily Mirror suggests Jackson may share more about his personal life in the coming years. The pattern: he reveals himself slowly, on his own terms.
For Welsh athletics fans, the legacy of Colin Jackson is not just about records—it’s about the courage to live authentically after years of silence. The choice is clear: celebrate the athlete, support the man.
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welshathletics.org, en.wikipedia.org, thepinknews.com, blackpresence.co.uk, news.bbc.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Colin Jackson’s world record in the 110m hurdles?
12.91 seconds, set on 20 August 1993 in Stuttgart (Welsh Icons).
Did Colin Jackson win an Olympic gold medal?
No, he won a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics (Olympics.com).
How many World Championships did Colin Jackson win?
Two World Championship gold medals (1993 and 1999) (Olympics.com).
What is Colin Jackson’s nationality?
Welsh; he was born in Cardiff, Wales (Wikipedia).
What is Colin Jackson’s CBE for?
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1992 for services to athletics (Welsh Icons).
How long did Colin Jackson compete professionally?
He competed at the elite level from the mid-1980s until his retirement in 2003 (The Black Presence in Britain).
What TV shows has Colin Jackson appeared on besides Strictly?
He has appeared on A Question of Sport, The Jump, and various reality shows (Daily Mirror).
These answers cover the most common queries, though Jackson’s life continues to evolve.
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Jonathan Ellery is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Press Hive, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.