Denise Lewis

A superb all-round talent, Denise Lewis has progressed to the highest world-class at the heptathlon, her best accolade to date bring the Olympic gold medal she won in Sydney.

In the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Denise Lewis took her first major International title winning the women's heptathlon competition ahead of the Australian favourite, Jane Flemming.

1997 saw her improve further by breaking her own British record and the Commonwealth record in her event before adding a Silver medal to her collection at the World Championships in Athens.

Denise :Lewis was awarded an MBE at the beginning of 1999 and later that year won the silver medal at the World Championships in Seville.

She broke her own British record again in 2000 but the highlight of Lewis career came at the Olympic Games in Sydney when despite an injured Achilles tendon Denise went on to win the heptathlon making her only the 6th British woman to win an Olympic Gold medal in the history of Track and Field.

Denise Lewis came second to Sir Steven Redgrave in the Sports Personality of the Year Awards and early in 2001 she was awarded an OBE from the Queen.

In 2004 Denise took part in the BBC One Dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing. Partnered alongside professional dancer Ian Waite, she got to the final and was the runner-up.

Denise Lewis is currently a judge for BA's Great Britons Bursary Scheme, a School Sports Ambassador for the Youth Sports Trust and is also an Ambassador for International Inspiration, London 2012's international legacy programme for children and young people.