If you're looking for some great British female athletes from the 1980s, look no further. Here you'll find articles about Hannah Mills, Olympic gold medalist, BMX champion Laura Kenny and Great Britain's first transgender Olympic athlete. You'll also find information on women's tennis, judo, and swimming.
Beth Shriever, BMX Gold Medalist
Beth Shriever is a British BMX gold Medalist. The BMX rider won gold in the women's race in Tokyo. Her success was a long time coming and was not easy. She began on a borrowed bicycle and a secondhand bike. Eventually, she became a household name in Britain.
Shriever won all three her races and nearly led from the beginning in the semis. In the final, Mariana Pajon, from Colombia, held off Shriever's late charge to claim gold. Whyte also received a silver award in the BMX riding event. Both Shriever and Whyte are British.
Laura Kenny, BMX champion
Laura Kenny was a former BMX champion and will return to the track in 2020 UCI World Track Championships. After two serious crashes at the velodrome, she had considered quitting competition. Her first accident occurred in February during a tempo event at the Milton World Cup. She broke her shoulder and arm in the fall, but resisted the urge to retire. The next month, she crashed again during a scratch race, breaking her arm. After she returned to her home, the injury was still undiagnosed.
Kenny has five Olympic medals to her name, including two golds. Silver was also awarded to her in the team pursuit. This makes her one of 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)
Both of the Olympic gold medalists are from Cardiff, Wales. They both enjoy being 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. Mills attended Howell's School, Llandaff, and she was the first girl ever to win the Optimist Girls' International Championship. She was also the first British female national champion. Despite her success on the water, Mills has deferred her third year of a mechanical engineering degree to take up this opportunity.
Mills and Worthington had been recuperating from injuries and illnesses sustained after the London Olympics. After a short break, they decided to give the Olympic Cycle another try. Clark was able recover from pneumonia. Joe Glanfield lost his coach, but the pair were back on the water winning the gold medal. Although the two were congratulated, it wasn't always easy. Mills had a concussion and stomach issues in January. She also needed to have a gastroscopy in March.
Great Britain's transgender first athlete
Transgender people are becoming more well-known in the UK and there are many events to improve their lives. The 1980s marked several significant events for the trans community. Philippa York was a professional cyclist who came out as transgender. The International Transgender Conference was hosted at the University of East Anglia. This event is now a biennial. Stephen Whittle and Lewis Turner published the book Engendered Penalties, which was intended to include trans people in a new Commission on Equalities. Kele Telsford's death in her home was another memorable event in 1980s. Laverne cox, a transgender woman who appeared on British Vogue's cover, was another notable event.
British women have always criticized transgender athletes. The inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sport has prompted a wide-ranging debate over their unfair physical advantages. British female Olympians also criticize the inclusion of transgender athletes. Despite this controversy and criticisms transgender women continue to be active in women's sport.