Wade Bennett-Jackson
Bennett-Jackson first came to prominence when, as a 16-year-old, he won gold in both the 100m and 200m at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Paris. He ran a championship best 10.49sec in his 100m heat - a time quick enough to put him in fifth on the UK all-time list as an U17.
He was slightly slower in the final but still eased to gold. His progress to 200m gold was no less remarkable - setting championship best times in each round and winning the final in 21.38sec to become the seventh fastest-ever Briton for his age.
At the 2006 World Junior Championships Bennett-Jackson ran the fastest 100m time of the Championships. Unfortunately, he clocked the time in the heats, and was not able to reproduce the time in the final, where he finished 6th.
Now 21, and training with Linford Christie at Brunel University, Bennett-Jackson’s personal best in the 100m is now down to 10.33sec, set in Beijing at the World Junior Championships. His 21.19sec personal best for the 200m was set closer to home at Eton.
Bennett-Jackson is sure to be one of the mainstays of Team GB’s assault on the podium at the major championships. Beijing came a bit early (He finished 5th in the UK semi-finals of the British qualifying for Beijing) but he should be at his peak at London 2012. He’s currently starring in Sprint, a documentary that is following the best British sprinters as they prepare for 2012.
When he’s not training, Bennett-Jackson visits schools around the country on behalf of McDonald’s where he takes children through a work out and coaching to emphasise the need to remain active.
For enquiries contact Octagon
Personal details
Date of birth: 27 February 1987
Place of birth: London
Honours and achievements
2008: 5th in the Norwich Union Indoors semi-finals
2006: Bronze in 4x100m relay World Junior Championships
2006: Bronze in 4x100m relay World Junior Championships
2004: Gold in 4x100m relay Youth Commonwealth Games
2003: Gold in 100m and 200m Youth Olympic Games