Sally Gunnell

Sally Gunnell ( Sally Jane Janet Gunnell, born July 29, 1966 in Chigwell, Essex ) is a former British athlete and Olympic gold medalist.

Gunnell began her athletic career as a long jumper and pentathlete, before they shifted to the sprint and hurdle races. Her international sport career began in 1986 with a first place in 13.29 s in the 100 m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where she competed for England. At the European Indoor Championships IAAF in 1989, she won gold in the 400 - meter race at the European Cup in 1989 and the silver medal. At the 1990 Commonwealth Games she won silver in 13.12 s in the 100 meters hurdles and 55.38 s gold over 400 meters hurdles. At the 1991 World Championships, she won silver in 53.16 s over 400 meters hurdles and gold in the same discipline at the European Cup.

At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, she won over 400 meters hurdles gold medal in 53.23 seconds before the two U.S. women Sandra Farmer - Patrick ( silver) and Janeene Vickers (Bronze ) and an Olympic bronze medal with the team in the 4 - x 400 - meter relay with teammates Phylis Smith, Sandra Douglas and Jennifer Stoute.

In 1993, she won two gold medals over 400 meters hurdles at the European and world record of 52.74 seconds at the World Championships in Stuttgart. Then Gunnel was voted European athlete of the year and to the world track and field athlete of the year. In 1994 she won five gold medals over 400 meters hurdles and indeed at the European Championships in Helsinki in 53.33 s, the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 54.51 s, the Goodwill Games, the World Cup and the European Cup.

Gunnell is the only woman to have held the European, World, Commonwealth Games and the Olympic record for the 400 meters hurdles at the same time. She now works as a television presenter for the BBC, is married and has two children.