In 2017, Olympian, World Champion and adoptee, Jamie Baulch agreed to fly the flag for Adoption UK.
The former British sprint athlete won the 400 metres gold medal at the 1999 World Indoor Championships – and as a member of British 4 x 400 metres relay teams, won a gold medal at the 1997 World Championships, and silver at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Jamie was born in Nottingham, but raised by his adoptive parents in Risca, near Newport, Wales. In 2016 Jamie made a TV documentary for the BBC Being Jamie Baulch: The Search for My Birth Dad, in which he goes in search of his biological father, who he believes to be Jamaican, and the source of his speed. In a previous Bafta Cymru-winning BBC documentary Jamie Baulch: Looking For My Birth Mum (clip below), Jamie went on an emotional journey looking for his birth mother. In the end he found her, met with her for the first time and showed her his athletics medals.
Jamie said: “I’m glad I was adopted as it gave me a second chance in life. It feels like I was chosen. Without the love and guidance of my adoptive parents I may not have had the opportunity to become an athlete and consequently a World Champion and Olympic medallist.”
Jamie Baulch - 5min Version from Andrew Wilson on Vimeo.
Vimeo Video http://www.vimeo.com/121118758