Photo via Athletics Weekly

Jeffrey Archer, bestselling author and former sprinter, dies aged 86

Jeffrey Archer, bestselling author and former Conservative politician, has died at the age of 86. His athletic career began at 17 in 1957, when he placed second in the Somerset youths' 100-yard sprint in a time of 10.5 seconds and later helped his team win the intermediate boys' 4x110-yard relay at the English Schools Championships.

Archer continued his track career at Oxford, where he earned a Blue in athletics as a sprinter and hurdler, serving as president of the university’s athletic club during the 1965–66 season. His personal bests included a 100-yard dash in 9.8 seconds in 1964 and a 220-yard run in 21.5 seconds in 1966, showcasing his speed and endurance from an early age.

Beyond athletics, Archer’s life included political service, charitable running, and literary success. He completed the 2004 London Marathon in 5 hours and 26 minutes, raising funds for charity, while his novels—including *Kane and Abel* and the *Clifton Chronicles*—sold over 300 million copies worldwide.

His final book, *Adam and Eve*, was set to be published this month. Archer’s legacy spans sports, politics, and literature, with his name first appearing in *Athletics Weekly* in 1957 as a rising young sprinter.

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