Goldie Sayers
Encyclopedia
Goldie Sayers, born Katherine Dinah Sayers (born 16 July 1982), is a British
javelin
thrower. She was born in Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom
. On 20 May 2007, Sayers set a new UK record in the javelin (65.05), thus becoming the first British woman to throw over 65 metres since javelins were redesigned in 1999. Sayers set the record when competing for her university, Loughborough
, at the Loughborough International match. She cemented this achievement at the Norwich Union Glasgow Grand Prix on 3 June 2007 where she beat a top-class international field in rainy conditions with a throw of 63.59m. Defeated rivals included European champion and Olympic silver medallist Steffi Nerius
and world champion Barbora Špotáková
.
.
From 2003-2007, Sayers won five consecutive national titles but had limited success at major championships, failing to make the final at her first Olympics in 2004 and finishing twelfth at both the 2005 World Championships and 2006 European Championships
The early 2007 season boded well for Sayers, setting two UK records and defeating high-class rivals, such as Germany's
European champion Steffi Nerius
and the Czech Republic's
Barbora Špotáková
, who went on to win the world title that season, at a championship where Sayers finished 18th in qualifying, with her worst result of the season: 57.23 m.
On March 15, 2008, Sayers won the European Cup of Winter Throwing title in Split
, Croatia
, with a throw of 63.65 m.
During the final at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China
she set a new UK record with 65.75 m when finishing fourth.
musician who was the first Englishman to appear in Grand Ole Opry
. He also appreared in the International Country Music Festival at Wembley, toured with George Hamilton IV
and hosted a breakfast television programme in the United States. Goldie Sayers attended King's School, Ely. She played hockey, netball and tennis at county level, and was an under 11 national table tennis champion. She changed her name to Goldie by deed poll
when she was 17 years' old.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
thrower. She was born in Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. On 20 May 2007, Sayers set a new UK record in the javelin (65.05), thus becoming the first British woman to throw over 65 metres since javelins were redesigned in 1999. Sayers set the record when competing for her university, Loughborough
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
, at the Loughborough International match. She cemented this achievement at the Norwich Union Glasgow Grand Prix on 3 June 2007 where she beat a top-class international field in rainy conditions with a throw of 63.59m. Defeated rivals included European champion and Olympic silver medallist Steffi Nerius
Steffi Nerius
Steffi Nerius is a German athlete competing in the javelin throw. She won silver at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and is the reigning World Champion; she is also a three-time bronze medalist at that level.Initially playing volleyball in school, she was too short for a career in this sport and...
and world champion Barbora Špotáková
Barbora Špotáková
Barbora Špotáková is a Czech javelin thrower. She is the current Olympic champion, as well as the world record holder....
.
Career highlights
Sayers first came to prominence when setting national junior records and winning national titles, in 2001. Sayers also served as the captain of Great Britain's women's under 20 team, this season. The following season, Sayers finished in sixth place at the Commonwealth Games2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
.
From 2003-2007, Sayers won five consecutive national titles but had limited success at major championships, failing to make the final at her first Olympics in 2004 and finishing twelfth at both the 2005 World Championships and 2006 European Championships
The early 2007 season boded well for Sayers, setting two UK records and defeating high-class rivals, such as Germany's
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
European champion Steffi Nerius
Steffi Nerius
Steffi Nerius is a German athlete competing in the javelin throw. She won silver at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and is the reigning World Champion; she is also a three-time bronze medalist at that level.Initially playing volleyball in school, she was too short for a career in this sport and...
and the Czech Republic's
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
Barbora Špotáková
Barbora Špotáková
Barbora Špotáková is a Czech javelin thrower. She is the current Olympic champion, as well as the world record holder....
, who went on to win the world title that season, at a championship where Sayers finished 18th in qualifying, with her worst result of the season: 57.23 m.
On March 15, 2008, Sayers won the European Cup of Winter Throwing title in Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, with a throw of 63.65 m.
During the final at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
she set a new UK record with 65.75 m when finishing fourth.
Achievements
| Representing and | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Commonwealth Games Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the athletics events were held at the City of Manchester Stadium from the 26–30 July 2002. The route for the marathon event crossed Manchester city centre and finished in the stadium. The race walk events began alongside the Lowry Centre at Salford Quays... |
Manchester, United Kingdom | 6th | 51.32 m Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw The women's javelin throw event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games was held on 29 July.-Results:-References:** at BBC... |
| 2004 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics At the 2004 Summer Olympics, the athletics events were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 18 to August 29, except for the marathons , the race walks , and the shot put... |
Athens, Greece | 20th (q) | 59.11 m |
| 2005 | World Championships 2005 World Championships in Athletics The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of... |
Helsinki, Finland | 12th | 54.44 m |
| 2006 | European Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 12th | 54.70 m 2006 European Athletics Championships – Women's javelin throw The Women's Javelin Throw event at the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden had a total number of 27 participating athletes. The final was held on Sunday August 13, 2006, and the qualifying round on Saturday August 12, 2006 with the mark set at 61.00 metres.-Medalists:-Schedule:*All... |
| 2007 | World Championships 2007 World Championships in Athletics The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007... |
Osaka, Japan | 18th (q) | 57.23 m |
| 2008 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics were held during the last 10 days of the games, from August 15 to August 24, 2008, at the Beijing National Stadium. The Olympic sport of athletics is split into four distinct sets of events: track and field events, road running events, and racewalking... |
Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , PR China |
4th | 65.75 m Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's javelin throw -Qualifying round:Qualification: Qualifying Performance 61.50 or at least 12 best performers advance to the Final.Q - Qualified by right / SB - Season Best / NR - National Record/ NM - No Mark / q - Qualified by result-Final:21 August 2008 - 19:20... |
Personal life
Sayers' father, Pete Sayers, who died in 2005, was a bluegrassBluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
musician who was the first Englishman to appear in Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
. He also appreared in the International Country Music Festival at Wembley, toured with George Hamilton IV
George Hamilton IV
George Hege Hamilton IV is an American country musician. He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.-Biography:Hamilton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
and hosted a breakfast television programme in the United States. Goldie Sayers attended King's School, Ely. She played hockey, netball and tennis at county level, and was an under 11 national table tennis champion. She changed her name to Goldie by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
when she was 17 years' old.