Notable British Sportsmen and Women

Athletics

Running records and Olympic track gold.

1954

Sir Roger Bannister

First man in the world to run a mile in under four minutes, in 1954.

2004

Dame Kelly Holmes

Two Olympic gold medals for running in 2004; held British and European records.

5,000m and 10,000m

Sir Mo Farah

Distance runner born in Somalia. Olympic gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres in 2012 and 2016; the first Briton to win Olympic 10,000 metres gold.

Heptathlon

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill

Olympic heptathlon gold in 2012 and silver in 2016 (seven track and field events); holds British athletics records. Competed as Jessica Ennis in 2012.

Cycling

Two cyclists, two different headline facts.

6 Olympic golds

Sir Chris Hoy

Scottish cyclist: six Olympic gold medals and one silver, plus 11 world championship titles.

Tour de France

Sir Bradley Wiggins

First Briton to win the Tour de France, in 2012. Won eight Olympic medals, with gold in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

On the water

Rowing is Redgrave; solo sailing is MacArthur.

Rowing

Sir Steve Redgrave

Rowing gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games; one of Britain's greatest Olympians.

Sailing

Dame Ellen MacArthur

Yachtswoman who in 2004 became the fastest person to sail around the world single-handed.

Paralympians

Tanni = 16 Paralympic medals; David = six Paralympic golds.

Wheelchair racing

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson

Wheelchair athlete: 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 gold, over five Paralympic Games. Won the London Marathon six times and broke 30 world records.

Wheelchair racing

David Weir

Wheelchair athlete: six Paralympic gold medals over two Games; won the London Marathon six times.

Swimming

Ellie Simmonds

Swimming gold at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games; holds world records; the youngest member of the British team in 2008.

Captains and champions

Match each name to the sport first.

Football

Bobby Moore

Captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966.

Cricket

Sir Ian Botham

Captained the English cricket team and held English Test records for both batting and bowling.

Formula 1

Sir Jackie Stewart

Scottish racing driver who won the Formula 1 world championship three times.

Tennis

Sir Andy Murray

Scottish tennis player. Won the 2012 US Open, the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles title since 1936; Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016; Olympic gold and silver in 2012 and gold in 2016.

Ice dancing

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean

Olympic ice-dancing gold in 1984 and four consecutive world championships.

Image credits: Pruneau (2009), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Russell Garner (2004), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Tab59 (2012), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; RunForHeroes (2020), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; johnthescone (2008), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Petit Brun (2011), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Phil Guest / MachoCarioca, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bryan Ledgard (2013), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; rjp (2005), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; SNappa2006 (2010), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Eric Koch for Anefo (1969), CC BY-SA 3.0 NL, via Wikimedia Commons; Nic Redhead (2013), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Dan Smith (2005), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Carine06 (2018), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; vagueonthehow (2011), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.