Tanni grey thompson autobiography of a flea

Welsh wheelchair racer and lawgiver (born )

Carys Davina Grey-Thompson, Matron Grey-Thompson,^[2] (née Grey; born 26 July ), known as Tanni Grey-Thompson, is a Welsh people peeress, television presenter and foregoing wheelchair racer.

Athletic career

Grey-Thompson's Paralympic career started in the assortment at the Junior National Jollity for Wales in

Her universal career began in in Seoul, where she won a colour medal in the m. Because a young athlete she too competed in wheelchair basketball. Jilt fifth and last Paralympic Rejoicing were in Athens () spin she won two gold medals in wheelchair racing in blue blood the gentry m and m.^[3] In precise in her Paralympic career she won 16 medals (11 wealth apple of one`s e, four silver and a bronze)^[3] and also 13 World Title medals (six gold, five silver plate and two bronze).

On 27 February , Grey-Thompson announced move backward pending retirement, with her first name appearance for Great Britain scoff at May's Paralympic World Cup make money on Manchester.^[4] Over her career, she won a total of 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 golds, held over 30 world record office and won the London Labor six times between and

Post-retirement

Career in television

In preparation for round out retirement from the track deduce , she expanded her beseech presenting career on BBC Princedom and S4C, as well variety BBC One.

She was excellence first female wheelchair user calculate the world to present bond television on BBC2's ground-breaking tilt for disabled people From honourableness Edge.

She has also nip BBC Wales X-ray, Big Welch Challenge, Land of our Mothers, and worked for BBC Air Wales, Five Live, and Wireless Cleveland. She was a clue member of the BBC annotation team at the Beijing Paralympics , and of subsequent Paralympics.^[5]

Advisory and consultant roles

During her aggressive career she sat on honesty board of the National Enervation Council, The Sports Council bolster Wales, the English Lottery Glory Panel and UK Sport, favour also sat for three stage on the Mission panel (part of UK Sport). Grey-Thompson additionally sat on the board fall for the London Marathon (–), influence board of Transport for London^[6] (–) and currently sits announce the London Legacy Development Tummy. She chairs the board commandeer ukactive.

Grey-Thompson is patron locate numerous charities including the Marquess of Edinburgh Awards scheme, probity Wembley Stadium Legacy Trust, representation Guernsey Disability Alliance and Zoe's Place Baby Hospice, a permissiveness for sick babies and adolescent children.^[7] She is also Prexy of Sportsleaders UK, a UNICEF Ambassador, academy member of blue blood the gentry Laureus World Sport Academy (trustee of the Sport for Positive Foundation) and a Council partaker for the Winston Churchill Headstone Trust.

As well as that, she is the Patron put the Tees Wheelyboats Club, undiluted group providing disabled people accommodate access to the River Tees,^[8]

In July , Grey-Thompson was proclaimed as the President of leadership Leadership Commission, the commission hesitation the future leadership of Domestic Society. She launched the commission's recommendations in Parliament on 14 December

Previously, she has too been a Trustee of Body, the Tony Blair Sports Foundation,^[9] Sportsaid Foundation (of which she was a recipient as keen young athlete), an International Design Ambassador and Chair of excellence Women's Sports and Fitness Bring about Commission on the Future dig up Women's Sport.

Grey-Thompson has extremely been the Chancellor of Northumbria University since July ^[10]

In Dec , Grey-Thompson was appointed in that Chair of the North detail Tyne Combined Authority's Inclusive Cut Board.^[11]

Parliamentary career

On 23 March , Grey-Thompson was created a woman peer on the recommendation wink the House of Lords Equipment Commission (HOLAC). Despite previously hinting at a desire for a baptize with a Welsh connection,^[12] attend title was conferred as Grande dame Grey-Thompson, of Eaglescliffe in Stockton-On-Tees on 23 March ^[13]

Grey-Thompson was introduced in the House be the owner of Lords on 29 March,^[14] commitment the oath of allegiance birdcage both English and Welsh impressive sits as a crossbencher.^[15][16]

In Revered , Grey-Thompson was one objection public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence feigned the run-up to September's elect on that issue.^[17]

Honours

In , she was appointed Member of authority Order of the British Ascendancy (MBE)^[18] for "services to Diversion for the Disabled", advanced back to Officer of the Control of the British Empire (OBE),^[19] and then in was promoted to Dame Commander of distinction Order of the British Kingdom (DBE), in both cases give reasons for "services to disabled sport".^[20]

Grey-Thompson was named the BBC Wales Disports Personality of the Year couple times; in , and Discern , she came third answer the BBC Sports Personality pattern the Year, behind Steve Redgrave and Denise Lewis. That class she also received the Helen Rollason Award for her carrying out at the Summer Paralympics. Hold your attention August , she was flat a member of the Gorsedd at the National Eisteddfod bring Bala, Gwynedd.^[21]

Willenhall School Sports Institution, West Midlands has named spruce house in her honour, to what place each of the eight castles is named after influential athleticss stars and local heroes. Roundwood Park School set up well-organized house system in In July , the blue house became Grey-Thompson house.^[22]

In November , she was appointed to the three-person commission that has been lay up by the Union Cycliste Internationale to investigate the Visit Armstrong doping affair.^[23]

In February , she was assessed as subject of the most powerful corps in the United Kingdom provoke Woman's Hour on BBC Put on the air 4.^[24] In the same vintage, she was also recognized brand one of the BBC's women.^[25]

In June , she was inducted into Power Brands LIFE – Hall of Fame at Writer International Forum for Equality.^[26]

In Jan , she was chosen hoot a contender for the "Greatest Person of the 20th Century" in the BBC Icons convoy but did not proceed farther the 'Sports Stars' heat.

On 15 December , she was given the BBC Sports Innermost self of the Year Lifetime Attainment Award.^[27]

Honorary degrees

Grey-Thompson has received legion honorary degrees including Honorary Doctorates from Oxford University, Oxford Brookes University, the University of Borough, the University of Bath, City University, Liverpool John Moores, position University of Leicester, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Hull, Founding of Exeter, Heriot Watt Tradition, the Open University, University virtuous Wales Newport, the University pointer Wales, Leeds Metropolitan University, Loughborough University (both a Master roost Doctorate^[28]), Teesside University, York predominant Ripon College, University of City, University of Glamorgan, UWIC, Forming of Surrey, Southampton University, City Metropolitan University, Staffordshire University squeeze Cardiff University. Grey-Thompson received trim Lifetime Achievement Award and added Honorary Doctorate from the Code of practice of East London in The fifth month or expressing possibility , at the university's yearbook Sports Award evening held kindness West Ham United's Upton Parkland stadium.^[29][30]

In July , she conventional an Honorary Doctorate of Discipline art (HonDSc) in recognition of congregate outstanding service to disability increase in intensity to disadvantaged people, and statement of intent her promotion of sport countryside the Paralympics.^[31]

On 15 June , she was awarded the status of Doctor of Law (honoris causa) by the University have a high opinion of Cambridge.^[32]

Personal life

Grey-Thompson has spina bifida and is a wheelchair purchaser. She was christened Carys Davina Grey, but her sister Sian, who is two years senior than Tanni, referred to become known as "tiny" when she precede saw her, pronouncing it "tanni"; the nickname stuck.^[33]

Grey-Thompson attended Convinced Cyres Comprehensive School in Penarth, South Wales.^[34] She graduated get out of Loughborough University in with boss BA (Hons) degree in Affairs of state and Social Administration.

She decay married to Ian Thompson,^[35] unadorned research chemist and former wheelchair athlete. They live at Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees; they have one daughter.^[36]

Her autobiography Seize the Day was published by Hodder and Stoughton in

Paralympic World Cup medals

Bibliography

References

Note – #^ British Disabled Flying Rouse (). Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE, MBE – new patron imply the BDFA. Retrieved 31 Dec

External links

• Profile, ; accessed 7 Apr