Suzanne Dando

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Suzanne Dando (born 3 July 1961) was a British gymnast, most famously at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, and now commentator mainly with Sky Sports.

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[edit] Gymnast

Dando climbed onto the uneven bars for the first time when she was 12, but in 1977 she was awarded a scholarship via the Churchill Fellowship to spend time training in the USA. When she returned home, Dando gained a place on the British National squad. Although she failed to make Britain’s squad to the 1979 European Championships, she represented her country in the more competitive arena of the 1979 World Championships, gaining her F.I.G. Gold Pin.

In 1980, Dando became the British national champion. She then led her teammates, Susan Cheesborough and Denise Jones, to the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Dando improved dramatically on her standing (48th) following prelims, finishing 27th in the AA competition.

[edit] Retirement

Like many gymnasts, Dando retired after the Olympics. In an article entitled “Frightened Champion quits Danger Sport”, Dando explained that the direction the sport was taking terrified her, as the risks of serious injury (such as that which happened to Yelena Mukhina) were increasing. Dando further explained that although she was petite herself, the very tiny gymnasts she encountered in Moscow made her feel intimidated and acutely embarrassed. Dando later revealed to the UK press that she had suffered anorexia whilst a gymnast. At one point her parents banned her from going to the gym until she ate.

[edit] After Gymnastics

Following her retirement, Dando coached the under fives in gymnastics at the Lewisham Leisure Centre in South London. She also wrote a book "Fun ways to looking good and feeling fit", and produced and presented her own fitness video "Flexercise".

Dando also had a parallel career in show biz, serving as: a model; actress (she had a bit part in the James Bond film "Octopussy"); TV presenter ("Anything Goes" - Referee); TV commentator (initially gymnastics and basketball); singer; dancer; and principal lead in various stage shows and pantomime

After her divorce, she joined SkySports in 1999, and has commentated there ever since, with the odd stint on the BBC for national and international gymnastics events; and ITV for basketball

Dando has her own Interior Design business "Sydney Vernon Interiors", and the Internet based company "Grass" specializing in contemporary design-led garden lifestyle gifts and accessories.

Suzanne is the Patron of "Action against Breast Cancer", captain of the Ladies Bunbury charity cricket team, and an ambassador to The Princes Trust.

[edit] Personal life

In 1987, Dando married Graham Maclean, a composer and song writer. However, the marriage broke down, and she needed to work again. She joined SkySports in 1999, meeting future boyfriend and former Scotland footballer Andy Gray. The couple lived in a converted farm house in Warwickshire for six years, before Gray's meandering again got the better of him on a trip to Puerto Banus, and they split up in 2005[1]

In the early 1980s, she made celebrity appearances for the British Conservative Party, citing Margaret Thatcher as her inspiration

Her hobbies are keeping fit, running (she has participated in numerous marathons), and horse riding

[edit] Trivia

  • Dando and Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies shared a flat in the early 1980's [2]
  • Dando is often mistakenly called Jill by the general public, after the deceased BBC newsreader Jill Dando

[edit] Competition record

  • 1976 Lilia-White Championships: 1st UB
  • 1979 GBR-TCH Dual Meet: 4th AA
  • 1979 GBR-HUN Dual Meet: 5th AA
  • 1979 GBR Nationals: 3rd AA
  • 1979 Coca-Cola International: 7th AA (tie)
  • 1979 World Championships: 16th T
  • 1980 British Championship: 1st AA
  • 1980 Champions Cup: 1st AA
  • 1980 GBR-HUN Dual Meet: 3rd AA
  • 1980 Champions All: 6th AA
  • 1980 Cottbus Intl: 14th AA
  • 1980 Summer Olympics: 27th AA

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16893470&method=full&siteid=93463&headline=exclusive--randy-andy-rat-it-again---with-best-mate-s-wife-name_page.html
  2. ^ http://sport.guardian.co.uk/smalltalk/story/0,,1323042,00.html

[edit] External links

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