Sharron Davies

Sharron Davies occupies a unique position in British life. In an age of increasingly fleeting fame for film, TV, music and sports stars, Sharron has occupied a position as one of the UK’s best known and most popular women since she burst onto the scene as a 13 year old Olympian in 1976.
As a sportswoman, television personality, devoted mother, stunning model, tireless charity worker, powerboat racer, author, interior designer, or equestrian Sharron Davies enjoys remarkable popularity among 8 to 80 year olds.

Having first swum for Britain at the extraordinary age of 11, she was selected for the 1976 Montreal Olympics and instantly became a household name. At only 14 she confirmed her talents by winning two European Bronze medals – only losing out to the then all conquering East Germans. But it was in 1978 that 15-year-old Sharron stormed to the first of her many successes winning Commonwealth gold medals in both 200 and 400m Individual Medley events.

Her astonishing form continued and in 1980 she took a battling silver at the Moscow Olympics finishing just behind Petra Schneider of East Germany. Ms Schneider has since admitted that her performance was heavily drug enhanced. An emotional reunion between Sharron and Petra was the subject of a Channel 4 television documentary.

As is so often the case with prodigies whose success and stardom arrives so early, Sharron Davies decided she needed a break from training and competition and ‘retired’ at the age of 18 to pursue a media career. However she eventually found the lure of the water too much and returned in 1989 and promptly regained her national 200m title.

As ladies captain of the British team’s 1990 Commonwealth Games squad, she led from the front and returned with silver and bronze medals.

Twice voted “British Press Sportswoman of the Year”, Sharron’s incredible international career spanned three decades, included numerous major titles and medals, 200 British records, some of which stand to this day (including the 20 year old 400 IM record), 5 World Masters records and an MBE awarded by the Queen for services to sport.

Retiring from competition in 1994, Sharron Davies has become a regular on television and in the press. As a key member of BBC television’s commentating and presenting team she has covered many major events including the Seoul, Atlanta and Sydney Olympics.

Sharron has also presented TV’s The Big Breakfast, been the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, adorned the covers of many leading magazines, written for publications such as Cosmopolitan and The Independent, as well as contributing magazine features on one of her biggest hobbies – interior design.

Other television work includes a successful 26 part series on Parenting and ITV’s Gladiators where as ‘Amazon’ she won over a whole new generation of fans. A serious knee injury forced her out of the all-action show after two years. More recently Sharron co-presented Channel Five’s revival of the long running celebrity sports competition Superstars.

Sharron Davies has written several books including an autobiography, fitness and pregnancy guide, a learn to swim book (translated into 10 languages) a back care book, a Fit For Life CD-Rom and a fitness video.

Hobbies include horse riding, fashion, art, architecture, keeping fit (still regularly working out in her extensive home gym) and skiing. However her greatest passion is her two children Elliott and Grace who are regularly by her side during her travels.

As patron of Disabled Sport England and The Sports Aid Foundation Sharron devotes much time to charity. But it is with her very own massive annual swimming event, Swim For Life, that she has become widely known. Launched 10 years ago with Princess Diana the event – which involves 2,000 pools nation-wide – and has since raised well over £5 million for different causes! Sharron remains in constant demand for media work and public appearances throughout Europe.

Sharron has known triumph and adversity in her personal life and in a sporting context and knows what it takes to operate at the highest level, to prioritise, multi-task, overcome obstacles and attain success.

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