#42 with Roger Black: Beating The Odds - On & Off The Track
In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn speaks with Roger Black — Olympic silver medallist, World and European champion in the 400m and 4x400m relay. Roger shares his journey from competing with a heart condition to racing legends like Michael Johnson, Edwin Moses, and Antonio Pettigrew.
He reflects on training and competing alongside British greats Marcus Adams, Kriss Akabusi, Linford Christie, Sebastian Coe, Kelly Holmes, Matthew Hudson-Smith, John Regis, Derek Redman, and Daley Thompson — and what he learned from each of them.
Roger also discusses the mindset needed to perform at the highest level, lessons from the 1991 World Championships, and how success in athletics translates into business and life.
Whether you’re inspired by Olympic champions or chasing your own goals, this conversation is packed with insights on resilience, speed, and high performance.
TIMESTAMPS
(03:45) Training with a Heart Condition
(06:27) Journey in Athletics
(09:33) Running with Kriss Akabusi
(12:37) Kriss Akabusi - 10 O-Levels vs 10 No-Levels
(15:37) Training with Todd Bennett and Kriss Akabusi - 1991 World Athletics Championship
(18:20) John Regis
(21:45) Changing the Running Order
(27:33) Matthew Hudson Smith
(28:45) Quincy Watts
(32:54) Visualising the Race with Michael Johnson
(35:24) Personal Best in Training
(39:00) Speed Kills!
(40:45) Athletics - A Labour of Love?
(43:42) Being Invited by Daley Thompson to Train in California
(44:45) Edwin Moses
(46:15) Success Leaves Clues
(51:07) Venturing Into Business with Steve Backley
(55:13) Differences in Business & Athletics
(59:25) Antonio Pettigrew
(01:02:25) Current Projects
(1:03:40) Skills, Knowledge & Mindset
Bio
Roger Black MBE is an English former athlete who competed internationally for Great Britain and England. During his athletics career, he won individual silver medals in the 400 metres sprint at both the Olympic Games and World Championships, two individual gold medals at the European Championships, and 4 × 400 metres relay gold medals at both the World and European Championships.
Since retiring from athletics, he has worked as a television presenter and motivational speaker. In 2008, Black joined forces with fellow athlete Steve Backley and founded BackleyBlack LLP. Black has a collection of fifteen medals from major senior athletics competitions to add to his two European junior championship gold medals.
Black won five national outdoor championships at 400 metres, and one at 200 metres. As of July 2022, Black remains ranked joint third in the all-time Great Britain lists for the 400 metres.
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