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| Human Interest | |
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General Interest | |
| Other information | PREGNANCY In May 2013 she announced that she found out she was pregnant when she went for a scan on her injured back. She said the baby, due in November 2013, would keep her out of competition all year, but she would still do some scaled down training in hopes of being ready for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. (dailyrecord.co.uk, 10 Aug 2013; scotsman.com, 23 May 2013) 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES INVOLVEMENT She was one of the figureheads of Glasgow's successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, memorably whirling delegates round the dance floor at a series of ceilidhs [a traditional Gaelic social gathering] ahead of the final vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2009. She is a member of the Athletes' Commission preparing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and she has also been appointed to the Glasgow 2014 Legacy Board. (theredpages.co.uk, 10 Apr 2011; Official Team GB Handbook, 2008) |
Further Personal Information | |
| Family | Husband Craig Banthron |
| Residence | Glasgow, SCO |
Sport Specific Information | |
| Club / Team | Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers: London, ENG |
Further Personal Information | |
| Higher education | Physical Education, Sports Science - Loughborough University: England |
General Interest | |
| Hobbies | Watching TV, reading, cinema, dinners and coffee with friends, sports. (championsinschools.com, 2011) |
| Injuries | She suffered a back injury in 2013. (dailyrecord.co.uk, 22 May 2013) She only competes in 400m flat after nerve pain reduced her capacity to train over hurdles. (leemcconnell.net, 10 Sep 2010) In 2009 she suffered a hamstring injury that restricted her season, forcing her to only compete in relay events. (morethanthegames.co.uk, 08 Aug 2009) She suffered with a quad muscle tear in 2008. (dailymail.co.uk, 22 Aug 2008) To compete in the 4x400m relay at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, she had to endure 10 painkilling injections and a course of acupuncture. She came home with a bronze medal. (timesonline.co.uk, 27 Jul 2008) |
| Memorable sporting achievement | Winning her first Commonwealth Games medal in the 400m in 2002. (championsinschools.com, 2011) |
| Other sports | She was one of Scotland's top high jumpers and cleared 1.88m in 2000, but began to focus on the 400m in 2001. (GB Team Media Guide, 2003) |
Sport Specific Information | |
| Why this sport? | Watching the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona - particularly the winning performance of Sally Gunnell and the passion and determination shown by Derek Redmond - inspired her interest in the sport. She was also encouraged by Katharine Merry and Donna Fraser's switch to the 400m. |
General Interest | |
| Hero / Idol | British athletes Colin Jackson, Jonathan Edwards and Linford Christie. (timesonline.co.uk, 27 Jul 2008; lloydstsblondon2012.co.uk, 2012) |
| Ambitions | To compete in front of a home crowd at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and to win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (scotsman.com, 23 May 2013) |
| Awards and honours | She was awarded the Coronation Cup as Scotland's Athlete of the Year in 2002. (GB Team Media Guide, 2003) |
Sport Specific Information | |
| Name of coach | Roger Harkins |
| Coach from what year? | 2000 |
| Training Regime | She trains two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, totalling 10 sessions per week. While pregnant in 2013 she trained about six times a week, including track sessions, circuit training and plyometric exercises. |
| When and where did you begin this sport? | She took up athletics at school but did not start training seriously until she was 13 after a coach saw her potential during a summer athletics camp put on by Glasgow City Council. |
International Debut | |
| Year | 2001 |
| Competing for | Great Britain |
Further Personal Information | |
| Occupation | Athlete |
| Languages | English |
General Interest | |
| Sporting philosophy / motto | "Work hard and have fun along the way." (championsinschools.com, 2011) |
Sport Specific Information | |
| Coach from which country? | Scotland |