LINFORD CHRISTIE explained publicly for the first time last night why he is delaying a decision on whether to defend the Olympic 100m title in Atlanta. "There is a lot more I need to do," said Christie after being denied an AAA sprint double by John Regis at Britain's Olympic trials in Birmingham.
"I have to feel happy with myself and at the moment I am not. There are improvements I have to make. I won't go just to make up the numbers. I must be able to do justice to myself and the people who support me.
"What I did this weekend didn't tell me anything, apart from the fact that I'm a tough son of a gun. There is only one way I train - and that's hard. I'm always in good shape, but I need to do better.
"If I do go, though, I wouldn't do the double unless Ron (coach Ron Roddan) tells me.
Christie was disappointed not to have shared the 200m honours with Regis after both men clocked 20.54secs. "I would have taken a dead heat but not that," he said. "There shouldn't be a split when it's that close."
