Kriss Akabusi facts for kids
Akabusi at Hyde Park, 2012
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| Nationality | British (English) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 November 1958 Paddington, London, England |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 81 kg (179 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprinting, hurdling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C./Team Solent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kriss Akabusi is a famous British athlete and TV personality. He was born on November 28, 1958, in London. Kriss is known for his amazing achievements in track and field sports, especially in sprinting and hurdling. He has won many medals for Great Britain, including at the Olympic Games and World Championships.
After his successful sports career, Kriss became a popular television presenter and a motivational speaker. He inspires many people with his positive attitude and life story.
Contents
Early Life and Name Change
Kriss Akabusi was born in Paddington, London. His parents were from Nigeria and were studying in the city. When Kriss was four, his parents went back to Nigeria. He and his brother Riba were then raised in foster care.
Because of the Nigerian Civil War that started in 1967, Kriss could not stay in touch with his parents. He later met his mother again when he was a teenager. She wanted him to live in Nigeria, but Kriss decided to stay in the United Kingdom. He visited Nigeria for the first time when he was 21.
Kriss's birth name was Kezie. He decided to change it to Kriss to mark a new start in his life. He kept the "K" to remember his past, but "Kriss" was for his future.
Military Service
In 1975, Kriss Akabusi joined the British Army. He first worked in the Royal Corps of Signals. This part of the army deals with communications. Later, in 1981, he moved to the Army Physical Training Corps. This is where his talent for sports was discovered.
By the time he left the army in 1990, Kriss had reached the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. This is a senior non-commissioned officer rank. His time in the military helped him develop the discipline and fitness needed for his athletics career.
Athletics Achievements
Kriss Akabusi started his athletics career in 1983. He first focused on the 400 metres race. He quickly became a key member of the British 4 × 400 metres relay team. In a relay race, four runners each run 400 metres.
- Olympic Medals:
- At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he won a silver medal with the 4 × 400 m relay team.
- In 1992, at the Barcelona Olympics, he won two bronze medals. One was for the 400 m hurdles, and the other was with the 4 × 400 m relay team.
- World Championships:
- In 1991, at the World Championships in Tokyo, Kriss won a bronze medal in the 400 m hurdles.
- He also won a gold medal with the 4 × 400 m relay team. He ran the final part of the race and helped the British team beat the American team. They set a new British record of 2 minutes, 57.53 seconds.
- European and Commonwealth Success:
- Kriss won gold medals at the 1986 European Athletics Championships and the 1990 European Athletics Championships in the 4 × 400 m relay.
- In 1990, he won the 400 m hurdles gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.
- He also set a new British record for the 400 m hurdles in 1990 with a time of 47.93 seconds. He broke this record again at the 1992 Olympics with 47.82 seconds, which is still the British record today.
Television and Public Life
After retiring from sports, Kriss Akabusi became a well-known face on television. He worked on several popular shows.
- TV Presenter: He was a presenter on Record Breakers, a show about amazing world records. He also appeared on The Big Breakfast.
- Quiz Shows: Kriss was a regular guest on many quiz shows. These included A Question of Sport, They Think It's All Over, and Through the Keyhole.
- Other Appearances: He has made guest appearances on shows like Come Dine with Me and Last of the Summer Wine. More recently, he has been a commentator on Bigheads and appeared in adverts for Ladbrokes. He also reviews papers on GB News.
Awards and Recognition
In 1991, Kriss Akabusi was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. This award recognized his great contributions to the country through athletics. In 1992, he received an honorary degree from the University of Southampton.
International Competitions Summary
Here is a quick look at some of Kriss Akabusi's major international medals:
- 1984 Summer Olympics:
- Silver medal in 4 × 400 m relay.
- 1986 Commonwealth Games:
- Gold medal in 4 × 400 m relay.
- 1987 World Championships:
- Silver medal in 4 × 400 m relay.
- 1989 IAAF World Cup:
- Bronze medal in 400 m hurdles.
- 1990 Commonwealth Games:
- Gold medal in 400 m hurdles.
- 1990 European Championships:
- Gold medal in 400 m hurdles.
- 1991 World Championships:
- Bronze medal in 400 m hurdles.
- Gold medal in 4 × 400 m relay.
- 1992 Summer Olympics:
- Bronze medal in 400 m hurdles.
- Bronze medal in 4 × 400 m relay.
See also
In Spanish: Kriss Akabusi para niños
