I wanted to fulfil a dream, I thought I was good enough to break the world record and become Olympic champion. I picked up a stupid injury, which blew my mind. If I had gone into the Games carrying the injury, I would have won, because I would have made allowances. Despite those setbacks, Jackson has still done enough to be a huge star in the British sports constellation. That he is not is partly to do with lack of rivalry.
Many competitors come to be defined by their rivals.
Seb Coe and Steve Ovett are the archetypal example in British athletics. It was to their, and our, benefit that their careers coincided. That Steve Cram followed right behind was a bonus. Internationally, the case of Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson is perhaps a better example. Lewis was universally applauded when he won four gold medals at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.