Tanni Grey-Thompson

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Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE (born 26 July 1969) is a Welsh athlete and TV presenter.

Born in Cardiff with Spina Bifida, she is a wheelchair user, and is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK. Thompson competes in events over a wide range of distances, first competing in the 100m at the Junior National Games for Wales in 1984. Over her career to date, she has won a total of 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 golds, held over 30 world records, and won the London Marathon six times between 1997 and 2002.

In 2000 she was awarded the Helen Rollason Award for her performance at the 2000 Summer Paralympics, and was given the Order of the British Empire for services to sport. In 2001, she was given an honorary degree by Loughborough University, namely a Doctorate of Technology, having graduated from the university ten years earlier with an honours degree in Politics and Social Administration. Also in 2001, she was given an honorary degree by Leeds Metropolitan University.

In light of her retirement from the track, she has expanded her television presenting career on S4C and BBC Wales, as well as BBC1.

In the 2005 New Year's Honours List, her continuing services to Disabled Sport were rewarded with the honour of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Tanni is married with one daughter, and lives in Redcar, England.

[edit] Paralympic medals won

Paralympic Games Medals won
1988 Paralympics, Seoul Bronze in 400m
1992 Paralympics, Barcelona Gold in 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m; Silver in 4x100m relay
1996 Paralympics, Atlanta Gold in 800m; Silver in 100m, 200m and 400m
2000 Paralympics, Sydney Gold in 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m
2004 Paralympics, Athens Gold in 100m and 400m

Source[1]

[edit] References

  1.  British Disabled Flying Association (2005). Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE, MBE - new patron for the BDFA. Retrieved December 31, 2005.
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