Sally Gunnell, born Sally Jane Janet Gunnell, OBE, was born 29th July 1966 in Chigwell, Essex. She is a former Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles and has also worked as a television presenter, mainly for the BBC until January 2006.
Sally’s entrance to athetics started out with the Essex Ladies club as an accomplished long jumper and pentathlete. She then turned to the sprints and hurdling and is the only woman ever to hold four major track titles concurrently – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth, in the 400 metre hurdles.
Gunnell won the 400m hurdles At the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Sally won the 400m hurdles. She then set the world record in the same event when she won gold in the 1993 World Championships. Kim Batten broke this record in 1995, but she still holds the UK record. In 1996, in Atlanta, her Olympic title defence was halted, as she pulled up in one of her races, injured. It was her 30th Birthday, adding to the disappointment for her.
She worked as a Red Cross ambassador in Angola, in 1996. Then, in September 1997, she retired after a recurrence of an achilles tendon injury.
Sally was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998
In summer 2006, she took part in the BBC's Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses, as a celebrity show jumper
Following her retirement from international athletics, Sally developed a new career as a television presenter and motivational speaker. She has written four books on fitness, health, self-fulfilment and well-being. She is married to fellow athlete Jonathan Bigg, and has three children; Finley, Luca, and Marley (all boys)
Sally’s athletics career highlights
Olympic Games | ||
1988 | 400m Hurdles | 5th in Final |
1992 | 400m Hurdles | Gold Medal |
| 4x400m Relay | Bronze Medal |
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World Championships | ||
1990 | 400m Hurdles | Silver Medal |
| 4x400m Relay | Bronze Medal |
1993 | 400m Hurdles | Gold Medal and new World Record |
| 4x400m Relay | Bronze Medal |
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European Championships | ||
1989 | 400m Indoors | Gold Medal |
1990 | 400m Hurdles | 6th in Final |
| 4x400m Relay | Bronze Medal |
1994 | 400m Hurdles | Gold Medal |
| 4x400m Relay | 4th in Final |
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Commonwealth Games | ||
1986 | 100m Hurdles | Gold Medal |
1990 | 400m Hurdles | Gold Medal |
| 4x400m Relay | Gold Medal |
| 100m Hurdles | Silver Medal |
1994 | 400m Hurdles | Gold Medal |
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Europa Cup | ||
1989 | 400m Hurdles | 2nd |
1991 | 400m Hurdles | 2nd |
1993 | 400m Hurdles | 1st |
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World Cup | ||
1989 | 400m Hurdles | 3rd |
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