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
World Championships
1990
400m Hurdles
Silver Medal
4x400m Relay
Bronze Medal
1993
400m Hurdles
Gold Medal and new World Record
4x400m Relay
Bronze Medal
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
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
Europa Cup
1989
400m Hurdles
2nd
1991
400m Hurdles
2nd
1993
400m Hurdles
1st
World Cup
1989
400m Hurdles
3rd
If you have any updates or photos for Sally, please send them or comment below!
