Anyika Onuora facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Anyika Onuora

Onuora at the Our Greatest Team Parade in 2012
Personal information
Nationality	British
Born	(1984-10-28) 28 October 1984 (age 40) Liverpool, England
Height	1.78 m
Weight	76 kg
Sport
Club	Liverpool Harriers
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Great Britain Olympic Games Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro 4 × 400 m relay World Championships Bronze 2015 Beijing 4x400 m relay World Indoor Championships Bronze 2018 Birmingham 4×400 m European Championships Gold 2014 Zurich 4×100 m relay Gold 2016 Amsterdam 4×400 m relay Silver 2006 Gothenburg 4×100 m relay Bronze 2016 Amsterdam 400 m Bronze 2018 Berlin 4 x 400m relay Representing  England Commonwealth Games Silver 2006 Melbourne 4×100 m relay Bronze 2014 Glasgow 4×100 m relay Bronze 2014 Glasgow 4×400 m relay
Updated on 4 March 2018.

Anyika Onuora (born 28 October 1984) is a British retired sprint track and field athlete. She competed in short races like the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres. She also ran in team races called 4x100 metres relay and 4x400 metres relay.

Early in her career, Anyika was known for short sprints and sprint relays. She won a gold medal with the Great Britain 4x100 metres relay team at the 2014 European Athletics Championships. Later, her coach suggested she try the longer 400 metres sprint and relay. This change led to her biggest successes. In the 4x400 metres relay, she earned a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2015. In 2016, she won an individual bronze in the 400 metres and a relay gold in the 4x400 metres relay at the European Championships. These achievements were followed by an Olympic bronze medal in the 4x400 metres relay.

Anyika Onuora's Athletics Journey

Anyika Onuora on the track at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Anyika's first big international competition as a junior athlete was in 2003. At the 2003 European Athletics Junior Championships, she finished fifth in the 100 metres race. She also won a silver medal with the British 4x100 metres relay team.

In 2006, she competed in her first major senior tournaments. At the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, she reached the semi-finals of the 100 metres. She then won another silver medal in the 4x100 metres relay with the English team. A few months later, at her first European Athletics Championships, she did well again. She reached the individual semi-finals and took home another silver medal with the relay team.

Anyika was chosen to be a back-up runner for the British relay team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, she did not get to compete in the races there.

On 28 August 2014, Anyika helped set a new British record. This happened in the Women's 4x100 metres relay at the Diamond League in Zurich. She ran the third part of the race with Asha Philip, Ashleigh Nelson, and Desirèe Henry. This team broke the previous British record, which had been set just 11 days earlier.

She was a key member of the British women's 4x400 metres relay team. This team won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Anyika Onuora's Life Outside the Track

Anyika Onuora was born in England to parents from Nigeria. She has two siblings who are also well-known. Her brother, Iffy Onuora, was a professional footballer. Her sister, Emy Onuora, is an academic who wrote a book called Pitch Black. This book explores the experiences of black British footballers.

In 2008, Anyika graduated from Liverpool John Moores University. She earned a degree in Economics.

In October 2015, Anyika faced a big challenge. She became very unwell with malaria after visiting her late father's home village in Nigeria. Many of her fellow athletes did not know how sick she was. She couldn't even walk easily, let alone train for the Rio Olympics. Despite this, she showed incredible determination. She managed to qualify for the Olympics. By 2016, she had recovered enough to win gold and bronze medals in Amsterdam and Rio. Her story is a great example of strength and never giving up.

Anyika Onuora's Best Times

Anyika Onuora achieved impressive personal best times in her career:

See Also

In Spanish: Anyika Onuora para niños