3 OCTOBER 1987, Page 19

Running skills

Sir: At the risk of receiving a bump on my own head from Taki, it seems only fair to point out that Valery Borzov is not the only white man since 1960 to have won the 100 metres at the Olympics. Nor was 1960 the last time an Italian won the 200 metres.

The great year for the white man was 1980 when, in the absence of the Amer- icans, Alan Wells and Pietro Mennea won the 100 and 200 metres respectively. It may be significant, however, that Wells has since taken to running in a pair of skin- tight, knee-length black shorts.

Thomas Cussans

142 Southfield Road, London W4