Place Name
Kezie Uchechukwu Duru Akabusi (November 28, 1958), better known as Kriss Akabusi, is a former British Olympian who won medals at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Born in Paddington, to Nigerian parents, he and his brother were brought up by foster carers after his parents returned to their homeland, when Kriss was four. The original plan was for the boys to follow but the outbreak of civil war meant they stayed in the UK. Akabusi joined the British army where his potential as a track and field athlete was realised. His first international successes were with the British 4×400 metres relay team, winning a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics, golds at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and 1986 European Athletics Championships, and another silver at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics. He progressed individually in 400 metres hurdles from the late 1980s onwards, taking bronze at the 1989 IAAF World Cup. His time of 47.93 seconds to win the 1990 European Athletics Championships was a British record, and he also won gold at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. He reached the peak of his career over the next two years, winning a hurdles bronze medal at the 1991 World Championships and anchoring the British team to a narrow victory over the American team in 2:57.53 minutes – a British record for the 4×400 m relay. He followed this with a British 400 m hurdles record of 47.82 seconds to take the bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where he also won bronze with the 4×400 m relay team. Since retiring from athletics, he has worked as a television presenter and motivational speaker. This road is named, like many on the former brickworks site in Woodside, after British Olympic athletes. The cluster includes Christie Drive, Redgrave Close, Adams Way, Backley Gardens, Goodhew Road, and Coe Avenue.
