Sheila Parkin-Sherwood

Sheila Parkin married 400-metres hurdler John Sherwood in April 1968 and competed as Sheila Parkin-Sherwood after that. The duo competed in the three Olympics between 1964-72 and both won medals at the Mexico Games in 1968, with John winning bronze in the 400 hurdles while Sheila won long jump silver.

Parkin enjoyed a great deal of success both at home and internationally. She won several Yorkshire titles, at both long jump and 100 yards, and after seven WAAA junior and schools long jump titles between 1962-65 she was the WAAA champion four times in 1968-69 and 1971-72, and enjoyed four other podium finishes between 1962-70. Parkin was also a three-time winner of the WAAA indoor title in 1962-63, 1965. Parkin attended the Lady Mabel College of Physical Education, Sheffield, between 1964-67 and during her time there competed in the 1965 and 1967 Summer Universiade, winning the long jump gold medal in the second of those years. She later qualified as a physical education teacher

Having made her international début for GB against Poland in 1962, Parkin took part in both the European Championships and British Empire and Commonwealth Games that year. Although she did not win a medal, she went on to win silver at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Kingston, Jamaica, and four years later won gold at the Edinburgh Games. Parkin also reached the long jump final at the 1971 Europeans (4th) and 1974 Commonwealth Games (7th).

Parkin´s brother-in-law Steve Sherwood was an association football goalkeeper who played for Chelsea before making his name at Watford, and kept goal for them in the 1984 FA Cup Final against Everton. Sheila and John´s son David Sherwood was a professional tennis player who played at Wimbledon and in the Davis Cup.

Personal Best: LJ – 6.73 (1970).