Donna Richardson Travel Journalist

An interview with Jamie Baulch ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

By Donna Richardson

During a press trip to St Lucia last Christmas, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Olympian Jamie Baulch and his partner Cheryl Hicks. Little did I know that this chance encounter would lead to them becoming wonderful friends of our family. Our meeting was serendipitous. We all connected on a personal level during an exercise class and what started as banter and a casual conversation led to sharing stories and building a great rapport. Cheryl extended a generous invitation for me and my family to join them in covering the launch of a luxurious five-star resort in Turkey, alongside other Olympic legends such as Daley Thompson, Colin Jackson, Denise Lewis, Rebecca Adlington and Leon Taylor to name but a few. It was an offer not to refuse.

As I learned more about Jamie’s incredible journey to becoming an Olympic silver medallist and world champion, his story unfolded like a compelling narrative. Jamie is one of Wales’s most celebrated Olympians, clinching a silver medal in Atlanta in 1996.

Born in Nottingham, Jamie was raised in Risca, near Newport after being adopted by Alan and Marilyn Baulch. They gave him a fabulous start in life, nurturing his sprinting talent from an early age. Through unwavering dedication and hard work, he ascended the ranks, with guidance and training from legendary sprinter Colin Jackson playing a pivotal role in his achievement as an Olympic silver medallist.

He exemplifies the true spirit of the Games, displaying humility and authenticity throughout his remarkable journey to Olympic success at the age of 23.  His dedication to his sport and the unwavering support of his adoptive parents have shaped him into the humble and genuine individual he is today despite his incredible achievements.  

Winning an Olympic silver medal was a significant milestone for Jamie, and he dedicated this to his parents. Jamie’s parents played a crucial role in helping him reach his full potential. His passion for running was evident from a young age and led him to become an Olympic legend. He is also the 400-metre sprint World Champion.

Jamie’s journey to Olympic success began when he was 11 years old. In his final year of junior school, during an obstacle race on sports day. His headmaster, recognising his talent, encouraged him to join the running club. Despite being short for a sprinter at 5ft 8, Jamie was able to catch up to older competitors through hard work and perseverance. At 17, he competed in the European Championships and reached the 200-meter final. His first coach was Mr. Fluck, and he later trained with Jim Anderson, who had coached other successful athletes. Jamie’s first major competition was the 1994 Commonwealth Games, where he represented Wales.

Jamie recalls being in Colin Jacksons’ room in 1994, with a fellow athlete called Paul Grey when Colin announced: “Jamie how would you like me to be your coach?” Jamie was stunned. Just a year earlier, Colin had broken the record for the 110 m hurdle and won the world championships, so it was an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.

“He said to me ‘I’ve got a house in Florida you can come over you’ll be training with Linford Christie, Merlin Otti, Frankie Fredricks, Paul Grey, Darren Campbell.’ These were some of the fastest people on the planet, at the time, so of course I jumped at the chance.

The transformation from a talented athlete to becoming the world’s best in his field within a few years was remarkable. Jamie’s commitment to success led him to sacrifice time away from his family and endure rigorous training, ultimately earning him an Olympic medal. As he reflects on the demanding and challenging road to success and his sons now thriving in their pursuits, he is reminded of the invaluable traits of self-motivation and determination.

“Looking back at my journey, I am both amazed and proud of the dedication it took to become the best in the world in what I do.

“In late ‘94 and ‘95, I was training. By 1996 I got myself an Olympic medal. Success breeds success. I went from being a good athlete to being the world’s best at what I did in a few years. It didn’t take me too long to be in that group to fulfil my talent.”

“I’d be away for six months of the year in warm weather training and at the same time, my partner was pregnant with my first son Jay who is 29 this year.

“So, even though it was lovely being away with Linford and Colin and all these athletes, I had a son at home who I missed so it was hard. But that’s the sacrifices you have got to make to become the best.

“You’re not going to be the best if you don’t sacrifice and commit and do uncomfortable things. Being an Olympian is one thing, but winning an Olympic medal is another.  The attributes of a champion are sacrifice and pure commitment to attain greatness.

“It’s crazy what you’ve got to do to become that number one in the world, it’s a commitment like nothing other, training on Christmas Day, being sick every other day, and getting up in the cold when you’re not warm weather training. Athletics looks pretty on the telly when it is all smiles and crossing the line and putting your arms in the air but the long and short of it is it is hard. I look back as a 50-year-old and think, how the hell did I do that? Would I want to put myself through the hard work, but it was worth it.”

Jamie has two sons, Jay and Morgan. “Jay is now 29 owns his own company and has a child. Morgan, my youngest is in MJ the musical in the West End. There are some crossovers because Morgan would train and dance and he would self-motivate. He naturally wanted to do it for himself, which does remind me of me. He naturally wants to do it for himself. My dad didn’t have to push me. Colin Jackson didn’t have to force me to do that last repetition that would make me sick because I pushed my body so hard. 

“My favourite competition ever for feeling amazing was in 1999 in Japan, where I became the fastest person on the planet. When I did that lap of honour, I went into the in-field and I had my phone to ring my mum and dad. My dad asked me how it went: I said: Dad, your son is the World Champion and I cried on the phone. It was even more special to me because I was adopted. That was the most special moment in my career because my mum and dad have given me so many opportunities and they still do. If it wasn’t for them not only picking me up at the adoption home but giving me that unwavering support and love, I don’t know what would have happened. I probably wouldn’t have been sitting here with an Olympic medal and 12 other major medals if it wasn’t for them. I know that they know it and to have my dad crying at that race and they captured that moment on the camera. It’s those moments in life which are just so incredible. Life’s hard and we all show the sunny side of life and this representation but as we all know life is not easy.

“My dad isn’t a crier but he just burst out of pure love for me and the sacrifices he had put in. He took me to training in the rain, wind and shine.”

Jamie went in search of his adopted parents capturing his journey on a documentary: Being Jamie Baulch – looking for my birth mum. He found his mum Teresa who had watched Jamie’s journey on TV but never knew it was her son. Theresa died two years later but Jamie is grateful that he got to spend time with her. Searches for his birth dad have been fruitless but he credits the nurture of his adopted parents to his success.

“it could be that my talent was passed down to me in my genes but I agree you can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t nurture that and give yourself the equipment to nurture that talent, it goes to waste. My birth mother Teresa would have struggled. We had that conversation and possibly had I stayed with her I would have been running very fast – from the police. It’s like the film Sliding Doors, often you think about what would have happened in another parallel world.”

Back in the nineties, Jamie was called the Flying Pineapple due to his blonde dreadlocks and made the headlines off the track too when Wella sponsored him. He said: “I loved the attention I got from winning for the right reasons. I never forget that my fans helped me win that medal by cheering me on.  Everyone who knows me from school knows I am the same as I always was.”  

Jamie and Cheryl make a dynamic duo as a couple and work together in business well. The event they put together for Anda Barut is a testament to their dedication and talent. Cheryl runs Call Bruce, a talent agency. When Jamie retired from athletics he set up several different businesses including Definitive, a sports management company and sports memorabilia company Authentic Sports. Baulch also launched the fundraising platform uWin and silent auction hosting company, BidAid, so he could channel some of the profits back into helping adopted children.

Eighteen years from Atlanta, Jamie eagerly shared his excitement for the upcoming Olympics and his admiration for emerging talents. As he reflects on his achievements and life, Jamie acknowledges the privilege of competing at the Olympics and appreciates the significance of the event more as he gets older. Looking ahead, he anticipates an exciting upcoming Olympics. In the 400 metres he says Femke Bol from Holland will shine and in the 200 metres the Botswanan called Letsile Tebogo has made quite an impact in the world of athletics. At the 2023 World Championships, he secured a silver medal in the 100 meters and followed it up with a bronze medal in the 200 meters just five days later. When it comes to the 100 metres he predicted that Zharnel Hughes would beat Linford Christie and John Regis records this year. Then there’s Josh Kerr from Scotland and of course, Dina Asher Smith.

I am honoured to have had such an incredible experience with Jamie and Cheryl. Our time together at Anda Barut was filled with wonderful moments. The daily training by Jamie, Daley, Colin and Denise were incredible. Our swimming lessons with Rebecca Adlington, yoga sessions with Leon Taylor were also incredible. They all left me with a newfound enthusiasm for the upcoming Olympics and a deeper respect for the athletes and the world of athletics. I eagerly anticipate the upcoming games and the renewed perspective it will bring for me and my family. Thank you so much Cheryl.