Allison Curbishley

Although chosen for the Atlanta Olympics as part of the 4×400 metre relay team it was not until 1997 that Allison Curbishley began to achieve success as a 400 metre runner. This was the year that she broke 51 seconds for the first time, won both the European under 23 and Universiade titles and was a member of the British team that finished sixth in the relay at the World Championships in Athens. The following year she continued her improvement, reached the final of the European Championships 400 m and also won a silver medal representing her mother’s homeland of Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. This proved to be the high water mark of her career as a series of knee injuries ruined her chances of improvement. She recovered sufficiently to compete as a relay team member at the Sydney Games but, after failed attempts to switch to 800 m and the 400 m hurdles, she retired after a sixth knee operation proved unsuccessful. In 2002 when she was coached by former world champion and record holder Steve Cram, the two began a relationship and have been partners ever since. The two run their own media company and Curbishley also works as an athletics commentator for BBC Radio. In 2000, whilst training on Australia’s Gold Coast, she donated a set of training equipment, including a first pair of running spikes, to a promising local athlete. Eleven years later Sally Pearson became world champion at 100 m hurdles.

Personal Best: 400 – 50.71 (1998).