Sally Gunnell

Sally Gunnell started out in athletics as a long jumper and heptathlete, before specializing in hurdling after narrowly missing out for 1984 Olympic selection in the heptathlon. Initially a high hurdler, she switched to intermediate hurdles in 1987. Competing at three Olympic Games, four World Championships and three European Championships, Gunnell was the top female 400 m hurdler of the world in the early 1990s.

Gunnell won the 400 m hurdles Olympic gold in 1992, a World title in 1993 and silver in 1991, and the 1994 European title. A decent long sprinter, she was also a regular member of British 4x400 m relay team that won bronze medals at the 1992 Olympics, the 1993 World Championships, and the 1990 Europeans. At the Commonwealth Games she won titles in the 1986 high hurdles, 1990 and 1994 intermediate hurdles, and the 1990 and 1994 4x400 relay, adding a high hurdles silver in 1990. Gunnell also won titles at the 1994 World Cup in both 400 m hurdles and 4x400 m relay, the European Cup 400 m hurdles in 1993-94, and 1996-97; the 1994 Goodwill Games 400 m hurdles, and the 1989 European Indoor open 400. Her final few seasons were hampered by injuries, and she retired from athletics after an Achilles tendon injury forced her to pull out of the 1997 World Championships semi-final.

Gunnell set one World record during her career, when she clocked 52.74 while winning the World title in Stuttgart in 1993. She was also selected as IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year in 1993, European Female Athlete of the Year in 1993, and was world ranked #1 from 1992-94. After finishing her sporting career, Gunnell worked as a television presenter and athletics commentator with Channel 4 and later the BBC up until 2006. She later launched a successful career as a motivational speaker and fitness trainer running corporate fitness programs.

Personal Bests: 400 – 51.04 (1994); 100H – 12.82 (1988); 400H – 52.74 (1993).