Look no further if you are looking for great British female athletes of the 1980s. Here you'll find articles about Hannah Mills, Olympic gold medalist, BMX champion Laura Kenny and Great Britain's first transgender Olympic athlete. Also, you'll find information on women’s tennis, judo and swimming.
Beth Shriever, BMX Gold Medalist
Beth Shriever is a British BMX medalist. The BMX rider won Tokyo gold in the women's event. It took her a long time to achieve this success. She began with a borrowed kit and a second-hand bicycle. She became a household name in Britain.
Shriever won all three races in the semi-finals and nearly led the race from the beginning. She held off Mariana Pajon from Colombia to win gold in the final. Whyte also won a silver medal in the BMX racing event. Both Shriever, and Whyte come from Britain.
Laura Kenny, BMX Champion
Laura Kenny (former BMX champion) is returning to track for the 2020 UCI World Track Championships. She had considered retiring from competition after two serious crashes in the velodrome. Her first crash occurred during a tempo race at the Milton World Cup in February. Despite breaking her arm and shoulder in the fall, she refused the temptation to retire. The next month, she crashed again during a scratch race, breaking her arm. She returned home and was not able to diagnose the injury.
Kenny has five Olympic golds and two silver medals. Silver was also awarded to her in the team pursuit. This makes her one among the most decorated Olympians in British History. She was also the first British woman ever to win a medal at three consecutive games.
Olympic gold medalists Hannah Mills (left) and Charlotte Worthington (right)
The Olympic gold medalists, both from Cardiff in Wales, are keen environmentalists. Mills, a member the Welsh national sailing team, rose up the ranks to Great Britain and won a series of junior titles in individual and crewed events. She went to Howell's School in Llandaff and was the first girl to win the Optimist Girls' World Championship. She was also the first British female national champion. Mills decided to abandon her third year at mechanical engineering to focus on her achievements on the water.
Mills and Worthington had been recuperating from injuries and illnesses sustained after the London Olympics. After a short rest, the pair decided that they would give the Olympic cycle another shot. Clark recovered from pneumonia. Joe Glanfield, their coach, was killed. The team won the gold and they were back in the water. Both were congratulated by the team and celebrated at the beach. But it wasn't all easy sailing. Mills was hospitalized with a concussion in Jan and stomach problems March.
Great Britain's first transgender runner
Transgender people have been recognized in the UK for their gender identity and are now able to enjoy more events that make their lives easier. There were many important events that took place in 1980 for the trans community. Philippa York, a professional cyclist, came out as transgender. The International Transgender Conference was hosted at the University of East Anglia. This event is now a biennial. Stephen Whittle & Lewis Turner published Engendered Pennalties. The book was meant to include transgender people in the Commission on Equalities. Kele Telesford's murder was another notable event of the 1980s. Her body was discovered in her home. In addition, Laverne Cox became the first transgender model to appear on a British Vogue cover.
British sport women have long criticised transgender athletes. Transgender athletes have been subject to a lot of criticism due to their unjust physical advantages. British female Olympians are also critical of the inclusion. Despite all the controversy and criticisms, transgender female athletes continue to compete in the women's field of sport.