Shirley Strong

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Shirley Strong
Personal information
Born 18 November 1958

Shirley Elaine Strong (born 18 November 1958) is a British athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres hurdles.

She competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, U.S. in the 100 metre hurdles where she won the Silver medal.

Strong was born in Cuddington, Cheshire and remained in the village throughout her career. Now known by her married name, Shirley Holloway, she has two daughters and now lives in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.[1]

Career

Strong began her national career in 1977 with second placings in the 100 metres hurdles at both the AAA Championships and the UK Athletics Championships, achieving second place again in 1978 at both championships. Between 1979 and 1984 she won six consecutive golds at the AAA Championships and was UK Champion in 1979, 1980 and 1983. She studied at Northwich Grammar School For Girls, now known as The County High School, Leftwich.

Strong's first major championship was the 1978 Commonwealth Games, in Edmonton, Canada where she got the silver medal. She went on to improve on that in the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane Australia, by getting the gold medal.

Strong achieved a creditable fifth place at the 1983 World Championships with a wind-assisted time of 12.78 seconds, Great Britain's highest placing in the event until Tiffany Porter finished in fourth place in 2011.[2]

With the eastern European countries absent through boycott at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Strong went into the 100 metres hurdles event as favourite. However, in the final Benita Fitzgerald-Brown of the United States ran the race of her life to take gold in 12.84 seconds, 0.04 seconds faster than the Briton.

In the years following Los Angeles, Strong was frequently troubled by problems with her achilles tendon and failed to qualify for the 1986 Commonwealth Games. She did earn selection for the European Championships later that year, but withdrew from the team. After competing in the 1987 indoor season she retired from athletics.

Popularity

At the height of her career Strong was among the most popular athletes in the UK among a public who regarded her as "one of us", and even admitted to having an occasional cigarette after a race.[3]

Personal bests

  • 60 metres hurdles – 8.11sec Cosford, UK 11 March 1984
  • 100 metres hurdles – 12.87sec Zurich, SUI 24 August 1983 – British record 1983–88

Note: Strong twice ran 12.78sec, first in Brisbane (8 October 1982 ) with a following wind of +4.5, then in Helsinki (13 August 1983) with a following wind of +2.4. Any performance achieved with a following wind of more than +2.0 m/s is regarded as wind-assisted and does not count for record purposes.

Achievements

  • 6 Times AAAs (of England) National 100 m Hurdles Champion 1979, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 ( 2nd in 77, 78 )
  • 3 Times UK National 100 m Hurdles Champion 1979, 80, 83 ( 2nd in 77, 78 )
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  England
1978 Commonwealth Games Edmonton, Canada 2nd 100m hurdles 13.08w
1982 Commonwealth Games Brisbane, Australia 1st 100m hurdles 12.78w
Representing  Great Britain
1980 Olympic Games Moscow, Russia semi-final 100 m hurdles 13.12
1981 European Cup Zagreb, Croatia 4th 100m hurdles
1982 European Championships Athens, Greece semi-final 100m hurdles 13.23
1983 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 5th 100m hurdles 12.78w
European Cup London, UK 5th 100m hurdles
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, USA 2nd 100m hurdles 12.88

References

  1. "New girl on the block", Northwich Chronicle, 31 July 2002
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