Debbie Flintoff-King
Encyclopedia
Debra Lee Flintoff-King (OAM)
, born 20 April 1960 in Melbourne, Victoria, is a retired Australian athlete, and winner of the women's 400 m hurdles event at the 1988 Summer Olympics
.
, winning the 400m hurdles in a Commonwealth record time of 55.89.
Flintoff finished sixth in the inaugural event at the 1984 Summer Olympics
hosted by Los Angeles. In 1986, after setting Australian records at both the 400m flat and 400m hurdles during the year, she won both events at the Commonwealth Games
in Edinburgh
.
In 1987, she won a silver medal at the 1987 World Championships
and became the first Australian athlete to win an IAAF Grand Prix Final
, taking out her specialty 400m Hurdles event.
In 1988, she won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, South Korea, despite having just received news of her sister, Noeline's death. Her winning time of 53.17 seconds still stands as the Australian record in 2011.
Flintoff-King was one of the bearers of the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, New South Wales
, Australia. She carried the Olympic Torch at the stadium, as one of the runners for the final segment, before the lighting of the Olympic Flame
.
Married to her coach Phil King with three children, Flintoff-King coached Australian sprinter Lauren Hewitt
in the early 1990s and has mentored World Champion Jana Rawlinson
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, born 20 April 1960 in Melbourne, Victoria, is a retired Australian athlete, and winner of the women's 400 m hurdles event at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
.
Athletics career
She made her international debut in Brisbane at the 1982 Commonwealth Games1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
, winning the 400m hurdles in a Commonwealth record time of 55.89.
Flintoff finished sixth in the inaugural event at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
hosted by Los Angeles. In 1986, after setting Australian records at both the 400m flat and 400m hurdles during the year, she won both events at the Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
In 1987, she won a silver medal at the 1987 World Championships
1987 World Championships in Athletics
The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
and became the first Australian athlete to win an IAAF Grand Prix Final
IAAF Grand Prix Final
The IAAF Grand Prix Final was an athletics competition featuring track and field events staged by the International Association of Athletics Federations...
, taking out her specialty 400m Hurdles event.
In 1988, she won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea, despite having just received news of her sister, Noeline's death. Her winning time of 53.17 seconds still stands as the Australian record in 2011.
Flintoff-King was one of the bearers of the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. She carried the Olympic Torch at the stadium, as one of the runners for the final segment, before the lighting of the Olympic Flame
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
.
Married to her coach Phil King with three children, Flintoff-King coached Australian sprinter Lauren Hewitt
Lauren Hewitt
Lauren Katherine Hewitt is a track and field sprinter from Australia. She competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996, and won the bronze medal in the women's 200 metres at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.-References:* * *...
in the early 1990s and has mentored World Champion Jana Rawlinson
Jana Rawlinson
Jana Pittman-Rawlinson is an Australian athlete, who specialises in the 400 metres run and 400 metre hurdles events. She is a two-time world champion in the 400 m hurdles, from 2003 and 2007...
.