Famous British Athletes

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Do you know what’s an athlete made up of? Though one may argue, it’s the usual flesh and blood they have something more than that. Lighting speed, unswerving accuracy, strong determination, powerful endurance and superb eye-hand coordination separates athletes from common people. Though they come out from the common group of people, it is their dedication to sports and their determination to succeed that helps them stand out. Britain has been mecca of such sporting legends who have commanded the highest positions in track and field athletics. Their feats are remarkable and their achievements immeasurable. Through their unwavering dedication and resolute determination, they have earned a high place in sports in the world. Be it Lord Coe’s spectacular middle-distance running during the 1980s that has made him a living legend of Britain today, or the current British record holder Greg Rutherford’s long jump victories in Olympics, Commonwealth and European Championship games, the country has many proud achievers. Current women world record holder in marathon is British Paula Radcliffe who has three London and New York Marathon Championships each in her kitty as well as one Chicago marathon Championship. Other prominent British athletes include Morgan Lake, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah, Daley Thompson, Derek Redmond and so on. Check this section to know more about famous British athletes.
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 1 
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
(British Heptathlete and an Indoor Pentathlete)
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
14
Birthdate: January 9, 1993
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Liverpool, England

Katarina Johnson-Thompson is an English heptathlete whose performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games earned her a gold medal. She also won the gold at the 2019 World Championships. Katarina Johnson-Thompson holds the British record for the women's pentathlon with 5,000 points. A highly talented athlete, Katarina Johnson-Thompson also holds the British records for high jump in both outdoors and indoors.

 2 
Roger Bannister
(The First Athlete to Run a Mile in Less Than Four Minutes)
Roger Bannister
8
Birthdate: March 23, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Harrow, England
Died: March 3, 2018

British middle-distance athlete and neurologist Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was the first athlete to run a mile in less than four minutes. Before achieving such feat, Bannister set a British record in the 1500 metres during the 1952 Summer Olympics. In the medical field, Bannister became a neurologist and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford.

 3 
Sebastian Coe
(British Politician and Former Track and Field Athlete)
Sebastian Coe
8
Birthdate: September 29, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England

Sebastian Coe is a politician and former athlete who represented Great Britain in two Olympic events. He won four Olympic medals including two gold medals as a middle-distance runner. In 2012, he was inducted into the IAAF Hall of Fame. The same year, Coe was honored at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. 

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 4 
Paula Radcliffe
(British Former Long-Distance Runner)
Paula Radcliffe
9
Birthdate: December 17, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Davenham, Cheshire, England

Paula Radcliffe is a retired distance runner, credited with winning the London Marathon and the New York Marathon three times each. Born into an athletic family, she emerged as a running talent by the time she was in her teens, winning the world junior cross-country title at the age of nineteen, eventually. She held the Women's World Marathon Record from 2003 to 2019.

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 5 
Harold Abrahams
(British Track and Field Athlete)
Harold Abrahams
5
Birthdate: December 15, 1899
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Died: January 14, 1978

English track and field athlete is best remembered for his gold medal win in the 100m race at the Paris Olympics in 1924. Part of the Achilles Club, he and his exploits inspired the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. Following his retirement, he became a broadcaster and sports administrator.

 6 
Jessica Ennis-Hill
(British Retired Track and Field Athlete Who Specialized in Heptathlon and 100m Hurdles)
Jessica Ennis-Hill
10
Birthdate: January 28, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Jessica Ennis-Hill is a British retired track and field athlete. She specialized in multi-eventing disciplines and 100 meters hurdles. In 2012, she won an Olympic gold in the heptathlon. She was introduced to sports as a young girl and immediately took an interest in athletics. She has won several other titles as well in addition to her Olympic gold. 

 7 
Denise Lewis
(British Sports Presenter and Former Track and Field Athlete)
Denise Lewis
7
Birthdate: August 27, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: West Bromwich, England

Denise Lewis is a British sports commentator and former athlete. She won the heptathlon gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and became the first European to win Olympic gold in the heptathlon. A two-time Commonwealth Games champion, Lewis also won silver medals in the 1997 and 1999 World Championships. She was also the 1998 European Champion. 

 8 
Linford Christie
(British Former Sprinter and Olympic Gold Medalists)
Linford Christie
8
Birthdate: April 2, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saint Andrew, Jamaica

Linford Christie is a Jamaican-born British former sprinter who won gold medals in the 100 meters at the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships, and the Commonwealth Games. He is one of the most highly decorated British athletes of all time. He was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1993. 

 9 
Steve Cram
(British Retired Track and Field Athlete)
Steve Cram
3
Birthdate: October 14, 1960
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Gateshead, England

Steve Cram is a British former athlete who dominated the middle-distance running event during the 1980s alongside other athletes like Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe. During the summer of 1985, Cram set world records in the mile run, 2000m, and 1500m during a 19-day period. He is the first person to run 1500m under three-and-a-half minutes.

 10 
Greg Rutherford
(British Track and Field Athlete)
Greg Rutherford
6
Birthdate: November 17, 1986
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England

The great-grandson of English footballer Jock Rutherford, Greg Rutherford had a brief stint with Aston Villa football club before he focused on athletics. The Milton Keynes athlete won a gold at the 2012 London Olympics, while his 8.29m jump at the 2016 Rio Olympics won him a bronze medal.

 11 
Kelly Holmes
(Middle-Distance Runner Who Won Two Golds in the 2004 Olympics in Athens)
Kelly Holmes
7
Birthdate: April 19, 1970
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pembury, Kent, England

Kelly Holmes is a retired English middle-distance athlete who specialized in the 800 meters and 1,500 meters events. She won gold medals for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Beginning her career with the British Army, she turned to professional athletics in 1993. She took part in her final major championship in 2004. 

 12 
Daley Thompson
(British Former Decathlete and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Daley Thompson
7
Birthdate: July 30, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom

Daley Thompson is a British former athlete who specialized in decathlon. He has won gol medals in decathlon at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics. He also broke the world record for decathlon on four occasions. He also won three Commonwealth titles and is regarded as the greatest decathlete ever. 

 13 
Tessa Sanderson
(Former British Javelin Thrower and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Tessa Sanderson
3
Birthdate: March 14, 1956
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saint Elizabeth Parish St Elizabeth, Colony of Jamaica
 14 
Tanni Grey-Thompson
(Welsh Life Peeress, Television Presenter and Former Wheelchair Racer)
Tanni Grey-Thompson
6
Birthdate: July 26, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cardiff, Wales

Winner of 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 golds, Tanni Grey-Thompson is a former wheelchair racer, who won the London Marathon six times and held more than 30 world records. Also a successful television personality and patron of numerous charities, she was created a Life Peer in 2010 and made Baroness Grey-Thompson of Eaglescliffe in Stockton-On-Tees.

 15 
Kriss Akabusi
(British Former Sprint and Hurdling Track and Field Athlete)
Kriss Akabusi
8
Birthdate: November 28, 1958
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paddington, London, England

Known for his signature laughter, Kriss Akabusi is a former track and field athlete who has three Olympic bronze medals to his credit. He also became a European Champion in 1990, breaking a 22-year British 400m hurdles record. He had previously also been part of the British Army.

 16 
Christine Ohuruogu
(British Former Track and Field Athlete)
Christine Ohuruogu
3
Birthdate: May 17, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England

Christine Ohuruogu is a British athlete who has won an Olympic gold medal, two World Championships, and a Commonwealth gold medal in the 400m event. She also has an Olympic silver medal and a couple of bronze medals under her belt. In 2016, she became the second British track and field athlete to win Olympic medals at three consecutive Games.

 17 
Mo Farah
(British Long-Distance Runner and the Most Successful Male Track Distance Runner Ever)
Mo Farah
18
Birthdate: March 23, 1983
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Mogadishu, Somalia
Long-distance runner Mo Farah shot to fame with his 10,000-meter and 5,000-meter wins at the 2012 London Olympics. The first athlete to score a quadruple double, Farah has won 10 major international titles. He became the European Athlete of the Year thrice and has also received the CBE.
 18 
Steve Ovett
(British Track Athlete)
Steve Ovett
3
Birthdate: October 9, 1955
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brighton, Sussex, England

Apart from winning a gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Steve Ovett also set six world records. He once ruled the middle-distance running scene. A talented footballer in his teens, he later chose athletics, since he wanted to pursue a sport that wouldn’t make him dependent on his teammates.

 19 
Dina Asher-Smith
(British Sprinter and Fastest British Woman on Record)
Dina Asher-Smith
0
Birthdate: December 4, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Orpington, Kent, England
 20 
Iwan Thomas
(Former Olympic sprinter who won the silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games)
Iwan Thomas
3
Birthdate: January 5, 1974
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Farnborough, London, England

Winner of the 1997 World Championship and the 1998 European Cup, British sprinter Iwan Thomas is the current UK 400m record holder, having run a time of 44.36s. He has also represented United Kingdom at the 1996 Olympic Games in the 400 metres.  A popular television personality, he makes regular appearances on small screen, mostly as guest, panelist or presenter.

 21 
Dwain Chambers
(British Track Sprinter)
Dwain Chambers
5
Birthdate: April 5, 1978
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: London, England

Dwain Chambers is a British track sprinter known to be one of the fastest European sprinters in the history of athletics. He is the European record holder for the 60 meters with 6.42 seconds. He has won gold medals at the world and European levels in different tournaments. He faced a doping ban from 2006 to 2012. 

 22 
Mary Peters
(British Former Athlete)
Mary Peters
4
Birthdate: July 6, 1939
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Halewood, Liverpool, England

Mary Peters is a Northern Irish former athlete who specialized in the pentathlon and shot put. She was athletic from a young age and received encouragement from her father to pursue her passion. She represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Summer Olympics in 1972 and won the gold medal in the women's pentathlon.  

 23 
Keely Hodgkinson
(British Middle Distance Runner)
Keely Hodgkinson
0
Birthdate: March 3, 2002
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Atherton, Greater Manchester, England
 24 
Brian Moore
(journalist, rugby union player, screenwriter)
Brian Moore
3
Birthdate: January 11, 1962
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Birmingham

Brian Moore is an English former rugby union footballer. He played as a hooker for Nottingham, Harlequins, and Richmond. He was abandoned by his father as a child and had a difficult childhood. He sought solace in rugby and became a formidable player. He is currently a rugby presenter and pundit for BBC Sport, Talksport, and Love Sport Radio. 

 25 
Allan Wells
(Scottish Former Track and Field Sprinter)
Allan Wells
3
Birthdate: May 3, 1952
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland

Allan Wells is a Scottish former athlete who specialized in sprinting. He represented Great Britain at the 1980 Moscow Olympics where he won a gold medal and a silver medal in the 100 meters and 200 meters events, respectively. Allan Wells also won gold medals at other important tournaments, such as the IAAF World Cup, Commonwealth Games, and European Cup.

 26 
Lawrence Okoye
(Track and field athlete and former American football defensive tackle)
Lawrence Okoye
7
Birthdate: October 6, 1991
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Croydon, London, England

British track and field athlete, Lawrence Okoye played rugby for his school before taking up discuss throw. She won gold medal at the 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships and thereafter competed in the 2012 London Olympics in the following year. Later, he concentrated on football, participating in the NLF, before returning to discuss throwing, securing first place at 2021 European Athletics Team Championships.

 27 
Alistair Brownlee
(British Triathlete and Only Athlete to Hold Two Olympic Titles in the Triathlon Event)
Alistair Brownlee
6
Birthdate: April 23, 1988
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England

Alistair Brownlee made history by becoming the only athlete with two Olympics medals in the triathlon event. His brother, Jonathan Brownlee, too, is a star athlete. Born to a runner father and a swimmer mother, he was introduced to triathlon by Simon Hearnshaw, his uncle, who was also an avid athlete.

 28 
Steve Beaton
(Darts player)
Steve Beaton
3
Birthdate: April 5, 1964
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Coventry

Steve Beaton is an English professional darts player who won the BDO World Darts Championship in 1996. He is a former world no.1. He currently plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He made his World Championship debut in 1992 and established himself as a formidable player within a few years. He also participates in numerous marathons. 

 29 
Jonathan Edwards
(British Former Triple Jumper)
Jonathan Edwards
0
Birthdate: May 10, 1966
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England
 30 
Andy Goode
(Rugby union player)
Andy Goode
3
Birthdate: April 3, 1980
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Coventry

Andy Goode is a retired rugby union player and a sports pundit. He has played professionally in England, France, and South Africa for different clubs during his extensive career.  He played over 400 games and scored over 4,000 points in a career that spanned almost two decades. He became a sports TV pundit after retiring. 

 31 
Stefanie Reid
(Track and Field Para Athlete)
Stefanie Reid
1
Birthdate: October 26, 1984
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New Zealand

Stefanie Reid is a track and field para athlete. She represented Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games, where she won a bronze medal. She then represented Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, winning a silver medal in both the events. Stefanie Reid has also won a gold medal at the 2014 European Championships and 2017 World Championships.

 32 
Jenny Jones
(snowboarder)
Jenny Jones
4
Birthdate: July 3, 1980
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bristol

British snowboarder Jenny Jones, especially known for winning Great Britain's first Olympic medal on the snow, rather than on ice, learned to ski before switching to snowboarding. Eventually she started representing her country in various international competitions, winning medals, making history by finishing third at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, earning a bronze medal in the women's slopestyle event.

 33 
Gethin Jenkins
(Rugby league player, Rugby union player)
Gethin Jenkins
3
Birthdate: November 17, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Wales

Gethin Jenkins is a Welsh former rugby union player. He is the sixth most-capped player in rugby union history with 129 international caps for Wales and five for the British & Irish Lions. He retired from his highly successful playing career in 2018 and became a coach. He has held numerous coaching positions at Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC. 

 34 
Rory Underwood
(Rugby union player)
Rory Underwood
3
Birthdate: June 19, 1963
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Middlesbrough

Rory Underwood is an English former rugby union player. He predominantly played in the wing position and spent the majority of his career with Leicester Tigers. He also played for Middlesbrough and Bedford Blues. He was previously a pilot with the Royal Air Force and has played for the RAF rugby team as well. 

 35 
Steve Borthwick
(Rugby union player)
Steve Borthwick
3
Birthdate: October 12, 1979
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Carlisle

Apart from the English national team, rugby player Steve Borthwick has also played for Bath and Saracens. He has also coached teams such as Japan and England and now serves as the head coach of the Leicester Tigers. He also boasts of an MS in management from the University of Hertfordshire.

 36 
Roger Black
(English Former Athlete and Olympic Medalist)
Roger Black
0
Birthdate: March 31, 1966
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Portsmouth, England
 37 
Lewis Moody
(Rugby union player)
Lewis Moody
3
Birthdate: June 12, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ascot

English rugby player Lewis Moody began his career at the tender age of 18 with the Leicester Tigers. He ended his career with Bath Rugby. The tragic death of a teenage fan named Joss Rowley Stark inspired him to start the Lewis Moody Foundation, which spreads awareness about brain tumors.

 38 
Dario Gradi
(Association football player, Manager, Association football manager)
Dario Gradi
6
Birthdate: July 8, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Milan

Dario Gradi is an Italian-English former amateur football player turned coach and manager. He began his career playing as an amateur for several clubs before turning a coach cum manager. He was associated with Crewe Alexandra for more than 36 years in various capacities as a coach, manager, and director of football. He won the PFA Merit Award in 2004. 

 39 
Oliver Rowland
(Racecar driver)
Oliver Rowland
3
Birthdate: August 10, 1992
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sheffield

Oliver Rowland began his racing career with karting at age 7. With enough funding from the Racing Steps Foundation, he later stepped into single-seater racing. He now competes in Formula E with Mahindra Racing and has also represented teams such as Nissan e.dams.

 40 
Jamie Peacock
(Rugby league player)
Jamie Peacock
3
Birthdate: December 14, 1977
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Leeds

Known for his stint with the Super League teams Leeds Rhinos and the Bradford Bulls, Jamie Peacock has also captained the Great Britain and England teams. He started his career anew after retiring for a year. He also began a mental-health campaign to end the stress related to the COVID-19 lockdown.

 41 
Asha Philip
(English Sprinter)
Asha Philip
3
Birthdate: October 25, 1990
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Leyton, London, England

With her 2007 World Youth Championship win, former junior gymnast and sprinter Asha Philip became first British female athlete to earn a global 100m title. A double mini trampoline world junior champion, she also boasts of a drama degree. She has won relay bronze medals in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.

 42 
Alex Lynn
(racecar driver)
Alex Lynn
3
Birthdate: September 17, 1992
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London

Alex Lynn began his career with Formula Renault UK and scored a record 12 wins from 20 starts. The ace British race driver has also competed for Formula E, with Mahindra Racing. In 2014, he became the first British racer to earn the coveted GP3 title.

 43 
David Hemery
(British Former Track and Field Athlete)
David Hemery
3
Birthdate: July 18, 1944
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cirencester, England

Born in England and raised in the U.S., David Hemery competed for England as a hurdler and won the 400m gold at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He also has two Commonwealth gold medals to his credit. He owns the charity 21st Century Legacy and has penned several books, including a memoir.

 44 
Adam Gemili
(British Sprinter)
Adam Gemili
0
Birthdate: October 6, 1993
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England
 45 
Nick Easter
(Rugby union player)
Nick Easter
3
Birthdate: August 15, 1978
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Epsom

English rugby player Nick Easter made his debut for England against Italy in 2007. He has also played for Orrell and Harlequins. The brother of retired rugby player Mark Easter, he is known for making the infamous remark “That's £35,000 down the toilet” after England's 2011 World Cup defeat to France.

 46 
Zharnel Hughes
(Sprinter)
Zharnel Hughes
1
Birthdate: July 13, 1995
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: The Valley, Anguilla
 47 
Steve Backley
(Athlete)
Steve Backley
0
Birthdate: February 12, 1969
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sidcup, England
 48 
Sally Gunnell
(Hurdler)
Sally Gunnell
0
Birthdate: July 29, 1966
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chigwell, Essex, England
 49 
James Hook
(rugby union player)
James Hook
4
Birthdate: June 27, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Port Talbot

Former rugby player James Hook remains Wales’s fourth-highest point-scorer. Post-retirement, he expressed his wish to serve as a coach. He has also become a children’s author with the series Chasing A Rugby Dream, the first book of which, Kick-off, is soon to be released, after a delay due to COVID-19.

 50 
Kirk Shepherd
(darts player)
Kirk Shepherd
3
Birthdate: October 5, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ramsgate

Nicknamed Chaos, English darts player Kirk Shepherd made headlines when he became the youngest to compete in the finals of World Professional Darts Championship. He has been equally successful in both the BDO and PDC events. He is also known as The Karate Kid for his black belt in karate.