Kate Allenby was twice a medallist at the World Junior Championships (1994-95) before moving up to the senior ranks in 1996. She quickly became successful and was European champion in 1997 and the winner of the overall World Cup title in 1998 as well as being part of silver medal winning teams at the World Championships in both 1998 and 1999. She was part of the field for the inaugural women’s Olympic modern pentathlon at the Sydney Olympics and produced a consistently good performance over the five events to claim a bronze medal, Allenby won her first world titles in 2001 as part of the British women’s team and in the relay. She won further team golds in 2003 and 2004 and medals in the individual competition in 2003 (bronze) and 2004 (silver). A disastrous performance on an uncooperative horse in the riding phase ruined her chances at the Athens Olympic and she retired from the sport later that year after winning the sport’s World Cup. Originally fencing was her weakest event but she improved so much that she began competing in specialist fencing tournaments and was national champion after she gave up modern pentathlon. Allenby has a degree in sports science and a master’s degree in philosophy. She has worked as a teacher and has been chair of the British Olympic Association Athletes Commission.
Great Britain