Tim Hutchings

Athlete and commentator Tim Hutchings was best known for his prowess on the cross country field. Born in England in 1958, he grew up playing cricket and rugby with other boys his age. In his early teens, he was able to attend Worth in West Sussex, a prestigious private school, because his mother taught at the institution, offering discounted tuition. Eventually, Hutchings' abilities as a runner became apparent. After graduating from Loughborough University in 1981, he began training with renowned coach Frank Horwill. The legendary coach's grueling training sessions were challenging, but they paid off when Hutchings won the silver medal in the long course at the IAFF World Cross Country Championships in 1984. He would come in fourth at the Olympics that same year. Hutchings went on to win the bronze in the 5000 meter at the European Championships and at the Commonwealth Games in 1986. After returning to the IAFF World Cross Country Championships in 1989 and taking home the silver, Hutchings began to draw back from athletics. In 1991, after being sidelined by an injury, he opted to retire from the field and began offering commentary for British stations like ITV and Sky TV.