Roger Black (pictured in the conservatory of his home in 2016), 52, and his wife Julia have lived in their Surrey home with their children for eight years. Roger shared the items of personal significance inside their conservatory
1 TEAM SPIRIT
My wife Julia and I have lived here for eight years with our twin sons Max and George, now 12 (pictured here as babies).
Jules is super-creative – she’s a theatre director and works with a touring company that creates plays mainly aimed at children.
There are lots of similarities between theatre and sport, such as teamwork and collaboration; my kids like sport but theatre is a far bigger influence on them.
2 PRECIOUS MEDALS
My most important medal is the 1996 Olympic individual 400m silver, and this photo is of me with Michael Johnson, who won gold.
He was aiming to win the 200m as well, and just before we stepped up to get our medals he clearly wasn’t enjoying it – he was very serious and obviously thinking ahead to the 200m race.
I told him to celebrate his gold medal – it’s why we do it. That released his emotions and the tears flowed.
When I see him he still thanks me for reminding him to enjoy the moment.
3 ROLE MODEL
I was training near LA ahead of the trials to get on the GB team for the 1996 Olympics, and on my days off I would go to art galleries – in one I saw this bronze statue of a gymnast, which was a replica of the official statue for those Games.
Roger treasures a collection of medals and photos stored in a handmade box (pictured) given to him by Jules
I loved it but thought, ‘What if I get it and then don’t make the team?’ But I did buy it – and it arrived at my home the day after the GB trials, when I’d won my place.
Now, it reminds me about being confident in myself.
4 STRUMMER TIME
I come from a musical family. I grew up with my mum either playing classical music on the piano or listening to it; my uncle was a record producer; and my brother Nigel is principal horn in the Philharmonia Orchestra.
I picked up the guitar aged 13 and haven’t put it down since. When I was training in America with Kriss Akabusi and Daley Thompson we’d sit around the campfire at night singing along to it.
Now sometimes Jules will pick up her clarinet and we’ll play a song; the acoustics in here are great.
5 FRIENDLY KICKABOUT
When I turned 50 my wife and kids got me the best present – this beautiful table football game.
I’ve played table football a lot over the years, especially when I was in sixth form, but had never had the space to have a table of my own.
Now it takes pride of place in the room. The kids love it, and it’s a great thing for us to do together – you can have good chats while you’re playing.
I also practise on my own late at night, of course!
6 BOX OF DELIGHTS
Years ago, Jules bought me this wonderful handmade walnut box, which we call my memory box.
It contains photos of when the kids were born and of me carrying the Olympic flame, and one of the whole family including my 18-year-old daughter Isabelle from a previous relationship.
The two silver medals on the chair are for the 400m and 400m relay at the 1996 Olympics; the gold medal is from the 1991 World Championships 400m relay.
As told to Rachel Corcoran. Roger’s new book, The Little Book Of Property, written with Olympic javelin medal-winner Steve Backley, is available from amazon.co.uk. Proceeds go to Make-A-Wish UK.