Anyika Onuora facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Anyika Onuora

Onuora at the Our Greatest Team Parade in 2012
Personal information
Nationality	British (English)
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 4 × 400 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 × 400 m 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

Anyika Onuora (born 28 October 1984) is a British athlete who used to compete in sprint races. She ran in events like the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres. She was also a key part of relay teams, running in the 4 × 100 metres and 4 × 400 metres relays.

Early in her career, Anyika focused on shorter sprints and sprint relays. She even won a gold medal with the Great Britain 4 × 100 metres relay team in 2014. Later, her coach suggested she try the longer 400 metres sprint and relay. This change led to her biggest successes.

In the 4 × 400 metres relay, she earned a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2015. The next year, 2016, was amazing for her. She won an individual bronze medal in the 400 metres and a relay gold in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the European Championships. These achievements were followed by an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the Rio Olympics.

Anyika's Athletic Journey

Anyika Onuora on the track at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Anyika's first big international competition as a junior athlete was in 2003. She finished fifth in the 100-metre race. She also won a silver medal with the British 4 × 100 metres relay team.

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

Anyika was chosen to be a back-up runner for the Great Britain relay team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, she did not end up competing in the races.

In 2009, she competed in a special 150-metre street race at the Manchester City Games. She won the "B" final for women.

On 28 August 2014, Anyika helped set a new British record. This was for the Women's 4 × 100 metres relay. She ran the third part of the race with teammates Asha Philip, Ashleigh Nelson, and Desirèe Henry. They achieved this record at the Diamond League event in Zurich. This new record was even faster than the one set just 11 days earlier at the 2014 European Athletics Championships.

Anyika was a member of the British women's 4 × 400 metres relay team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This was a huge achievement for her and her team.

Anyika's Life Outside the Track

Anyika Onuora was born to parents from Nigeria. She has a brother, Iffy Onuora, who used to be a footballer. Her sister, Emy Onuora, is an academic. Emy wrote a book in 2015 called Pitch Black, which talks about the experiences of black British footballers.

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

In October 2015, about 10 months before she won her bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, Anyika became very sick. She had malaria after visiting her late father's home village in Nigeria. Many of her fellow athletes did not know how unwell she was. She could not even walk because of the illness, let alone train for the Olympics. Despite this challenge, 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 shows incredible strength and determination!

Anyika's Best Times

Anyika Onuora achieved some impressive personal best times in her career:

See also

In Spanish: Anyika Onuora para niños