Athletics Speakers

Britains best known paralympic athlete.

Tanni was born on 26th July 1969 in Cardiff, Wales and Christened 'Carys Davina '. When her two-year-old sister, Sian, first sees baby Carys, she lovingly calls her 'tiny ' or as she pronounces it, 'tanni '. The name sticks!

Young Tanni has to wear callipers and first uses a wheelchair at the age of seven. From the outset, her parents are supportive and encourage her independent streak. Teachers at Birch Grove Primary School remember her as a little girl determined to find out for herself what she can and can 't do. It isn 't long before Tanni is an accomplished all rounder at sports, enjoying swimming, archery and horse riding.

Tanni first tries wheelchair racing at St. Cyres Comprehensive School, age 13. At 15, she shocks everyone by winning the 100 metres at the Junior National Wheelchair Games. At 18, Tanni is a member of the Bridgend Athletics Club, the British Wheelchair Racing Squad and is selected for her first World Wheelchair Games.

A year later, in 1988 at Seoul, Tanni represents Britain and wins her first Paralympic medal, the 400m bronze. Then, spinal surgery forces a year away from the track but incredibly, at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, Tanni storms to victory taking four gold medals in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres. The same year, she wins her first of six London Wheelchair Marathons.

Tanni wins the 800 metres gold in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics along with three silver medals in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. At the 2000 Sidney Paralympics, 31 year old Tanni returns with a vengeance, striking gold a fabulous four times in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres. In Athens 2004, aged 35, she takes first place in the 100 and 400 metres bringing her Paralympic gold medal tally to an astonishing eleven.

In February 2010, she was appointed to the House of Lords where she will serve as a Crossbench peer.