Roger Black MBE

For over 10 years, Roger Black performed at the highest level in the world of athletics.

He is respected both as an individual 400m runner and a key team member of the 4 x 400m relay.

Above all, he is admired for his triumphs over adversity, successfully overcoming several serious injuries and setbacks and continuously striving for further self-improvement.

Roger was born in Portsmouth in 1966 and educated at Portsmouth Grammar school, before successfully gaining a place to read medicine at Southampton University in 1985.

By then, however, he had already demonstrated considerable athletic talent and he decided to rescind his place to concentrate on his track and field career.

Six years later, he received an honorary degree from the same university and was awarded the MBE.

Whether through his athletic achievements, or as a committed ambassador of sport, Roger regularly takes part in live radio and television interviews, and has debated in both Oxford and Cambridge Unions.

His talents as a presenter were first established in 1991, when he was asked to work for BBC Sport.

Since then he has captained A Question of Sport and presented numerous features for BBC Breakfast News.

He currently presents The Black Run for BBC Choice, and has also had a column in The Times.