Goldie Sayers facts for kids
Sayers setting a new UK javelin record at the Crystal Palace Grand Prix, 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Katherine Dinah Sayers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 July 1982 Newmarket, Suffolk, England |
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| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 11 st (70 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United Kingdom |
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| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Javelin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| Updated on 11 August 2012. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Katherine Dinah "Goldie" Sayers is a British athlete. Born on July 16, 1982, in Newmarket, Suffolk, England, she became famous for her skills in the javelin throw. Goldie won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
In 2007, Goldie set a new British record for javelin. She threw the javelin 65.05 m (213 ft 4.89862205 in) metres. This made her the first British woman to throw over 65 metres since javelins were changed in 1999. She achieved this record while competing for Loughborough University. Later that year, she won a major competition in Glasgow. She beat top international athletes like Steffi Nerius and Barbora Špotáková.
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Early Life and Sports
Goldie Sayers went to school in Newmarket and Ely. She was a talented young athlete. She played many sports, including hockey, netball, and tennis. She played these at a high level for her county. Goldie was also a national champion in table tennis when she was under 11 years old.
Becoming a Javelin Star
Goldie Sayers first gained attention in 2001. She set new national junior records and won national titles. That year, she also led Great Britain's women's under 20 team as captain. The next year, she finished sixth at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
From 2003 to 2007, Goldie won five national titles in a row. However, she found it harder to succeed at big international events. She did not reach the final at her first Olympics in 2004. She also finished twelfth at the 2005 IAAF World Championships and the 2006 European Athletics Championships. But she did achieve a fifth-place finish at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The year 2007 was a strong one for Goldie. She set two UK records. She also beat strong rivals like Germany's European champion Steffi Nerius. She also defeated Czech Republic's Barbora Špotáková. Špotáková later won the world title that season.
On March 15, 2008, Goldie won the European Cup of Winter Throwing. She competed in Split, Croatia, with a throw of 63.65 metres.
Olympic Medal Journey
Goldie Sayers first finished fourth at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. She set a new British record with a throw of 65.75 metres. However, in 2016, the athlete who finished third, Mariya Abakumova, was found to have used banned substances. This happened after her sample was re-tested. Because of this, Goldie Sayers was moved up to the bronze medal position. She finally received her Olympic bronze medal on July 20, 2019. This was at the London Anniversary Games, 11 years after the event.
In 2012, she improved her British record even further. She threw 66.17 metres at the London Grand Prix Diamond League meeting in London.
On July 4, 2012, Goldie had the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch. She carried it through Bourne in Lincolnshire.
On August 7, 2012, Goldie competed in the women's javelin at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Sadly, she had an injury to her right arm. She could not feel her throwing hand properly. She tried three times but could not throw the distance needed to qualify. She stepped over the line, meaning her throws did not count. She was out of the competition without a recorded mark.
After the Olympics, Goldie had surgery on her elbow. A ligament was taken from her right wrist and put into her left arm. At the end of 2014, she lost her funding from UK Athletics. However, a kind person named Barrie Wells agreed to pay for Goldie's training. In return, Goldie helped another athlete, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, improve her javelin throwing.
International Competitions Summary
Goldie Sayers represented Great Britain and England in many international events. Here are some of her notable achievements:
- 2001 European Junior Championships: Silver medal in Grosseto, Italy.
- 2002 Commonwealth Games: 6th place in Manchester, United Kingdom.
- 2004 Olympic Games: Competed in Athens, Greece.
- 2005 World Championships: 12th place in Helsinki, Finland.
- 2006 Commonwealth Games: 5th place in Melbourne, Australia.
- 2008 Olympic Games: Bronze medal in Beijing, China.
- 2012 European Championships: 4th place in Helsinki, Finland.
- 2014 Commonwealth Games: 7th place in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Personal Life
Goldie Sayers' father was Pete Sayers. He was a bluegrass musician. He passed away in 2005. He was the first Englishman to perform at the famous Grand Ole Opry.
