Tanni Grey-Thompson was awarded an honorary doctorate at Staffordshire Univeristy in 1998, and was made one of our first Pro Chancellors in 2004.
A hugely respected athlete, Tanni Grey-Thompson has become a global ambassador for disability sport. She won a remarkable medal haul over 16 years and five Paralympic Games of 11 gold, 4 silver and a bronze medal. In addition she won 5 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals at World Championships and the London Marathon six times in her career.
In 2005 she became ‘Dame’ Tanni Grey-Thompson for her services to sport. In March 2010 she became an Independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords and was conferred as Baroness Grey-Thompson, of Eaglescliffe in the County of Durham.
Tanni was born in 1969 in Cardiff, Wales. From a young age she determined to find out for herself what she could and could not do, with her parents supporting and encouraging this independent streak. After a long battle with the local authority she secured a place at mainstream school and it was at comprehensive school that Tanni first discovered an interest in sports.
She settled on Wheelchair Racing at the age of 13, after trying a range of sports. In her last year as a junior athlete, she won the Junior National title over 100m and at 17 became part of the British Wheelchair Racing Squad.
Tanni has continued to be involved in sport and physical activity. She is a Board Member of the London Marathon, the Sportsaid Foundation, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and Join In. In addition to this, she is also a Board Member of several organisations including Transport for London and the London Legacy Development Corporation.
Taken from: https://www.tanni.co.uk/biography/
