Celebrate abilities - Tanni Grey-Thompson

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Tanni Grey-Thompson

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson was installed as one of Staffordshire University’s first Pro Chancellors in 2004.

Spina Bifida meant that Tanni has been in a wheelchair since the age of seven, but she has become one of the world’s most admired and respected sportswomen and is regarded as Britain’s greatest ever Paralympian having won a total of 11 gold medals.

Born in Cardiff in 1969, Dame Tanni made her debut for Wales at the Junior National Championships aged just 15. Her first Paralympic success was in 1988 when she won bronze in the 400m at the Seoul Games. Four years later in Barcelona Tanni claimed four gold medals, including world records in the 100m and 400m. In 1996 in Atlanta she settled for silver in thee of her four disciplines with gold in the 800m whilst in Sydney 2000 she achieved victory in the 800m which was followed by success in the 100m, 200m and 400m. Dame Tanni has rounded off her gold medal tally by triumphing in the 100m and 400m in the 2004 Athens Paralympics. However, it is not only over short distances that Dame Tanni as achieved such success; she has also won six London Marathon titles, her latest in 2002 came just three months after giving birth to baby Cerys.

Dame Tanni has also been recognised by sporting organisations worldwide for her sporting achievements. She was one of only four female athletes to appear in the top 50 British Sporting Greats poll undertaken by publishers Cassell Illustrated. She is also a member of The Laureus World Sports Academy alongside sporting legends such as Pele, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan and Ed Moses. Dame Tanni, who also won the BBC Wales Sports Personality of 2004, has decided to end her Paralympic career, but is not yet ready to retire; she will maintain a close interest in the sport by nurturing the next generation of British Paralympians

Already a holder of the OBE and MBE, the double Paralympic champion was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Years Honours List.