Jade Johnson
Encyclopedia
Jade Linsey Johnson (born 7 June 1980, London
) is an English
athlete, specialising in long jump
.
She is allergic
to sand.
Johnson came second in the 2002 Commonwealth Games
. Later she won the silver medal at the 2002 European Championships
and finished fourth at the 2003 World Championships
. Her personal best is 6.81 metres, an Olympic qualifying distance, achieved in 2008 during the European Cup
, where she placed second.
In 2006 she had a public spat with fellow British athlete Kelly Sotherton
with the media claiming they openly threw insults at each other. Kelly Sotherton had been British number one at the long jump and heptathlon at the time, with Jade just having returned from a serious injury. In November 2007 she had her lottery funding removed making it harder for her to return to top rank competition. However, since then, she has set personal bests in the 100 metres
and 200 metres
sprints and in the long jump. She has also stated that she is now enjoying the sport more.
She came seventh in the final of the long jump in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
, jumping 6.64 metres. She was very frustrated with her own performance and expressed a dissatisfaction that the winner the Brazilian Maurren Higa Maggi had previously tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Johnson was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2009 European Indoor Championships but had to withdraw due to an injury.
On 25 August 2009, it was announced that she would compete in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing
on BBC1 with professional dancer Ian Waite
. During final dress rehearsal for the 14th November edition of the show, Jade suffered a serious injury to her right knee, and therefore was forced to withdraw on the 21st November. She stated that she was "devastated" to withdraw but had to be "realistic" and praised her dance partner Ian Waite
for his support. Johnson returned with the other celebrities to perform at the final, and was given an extended time slot so she could perform the Tango
that she had been due to perform before having to pull out.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
athlete, specialising in long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
.
She is allergic
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
to sand.
Johnson came second in the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
. Later she won the silver medal at the 2002 European Championships
2002 European Championships in Athletics
The 18th European Athletics Championships were held from 6 August to 11 August 2002 in the Olympic Stadium of Munich, Germany.-Track:1994 |1998 |2002 |2006 |2010 |...
and finished fourth at the 2003 World Championships
2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
. Her personal best is 6.81 metres, an Olympic qualifying distance, achieved in 2008 during the European Cup
European Cup in Athletics 2008
The 29th and final SPAR European Cup took place on 21 and 22 June 2008 at the Parc des Sports Stadium in Annecy, France. The Parc des Sports Annecy Stadium was also stadium for 1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics...
, where she placed second.
In 2006 she had a public spat with fellow British athlete Kelly Sotherton
Kelly Sotherton
Kelly Jade Sotherton is an English heptathlete and 400m sprinter. She was the bronze medallist at the 2004 Summer Olympics and was fourth at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She also was a bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, and was the heptathlon gold medallist at the 2006 Commonwealth...
with the media claiming they openly threw insults at each other. Kelly Sotherton had been British number one at the long jump and heptathlon at the time, with Jade just having returned from a serious injury. In November 2007 she had her lottery funding removed making it harder for her to return to top rank competition. However, since then, she has set personal bests in the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
and 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
sprints and in the long jump. She has also stated that she is now enjoying the sport more.
She came seventh in the final of the long jump in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's long jump
-Qualifying round:Qualifying performance 6.75 or at least 12 best performers advance to the final.Q - Qualified by right / q - Qualified by result / NM - No Mark / NR - National Record / SB - Season Best / DQ - Disqualified-Final:...
, jumping 6.64 metres. She was very frustrated with her own performance and expressed a dissatisfaction that the winner the Brazilian Maurren Higa Maggi had previously tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Johnson was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2009 European Indoor Championships but had to withdraw due to an injury.
On 25 August 2009, it was announced that she would compete in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
on BBC1 with professional dancer Ian Waite
Ian Waite
Ian Waite is a professional Latin-American dancer, teacher and choreographer.-Biography:Waite was born in Reading, UK. He started dancing at the age of 10. Mary Richardson, a former Latin American champion put him through a rigorous medallist regime...
. During final dress rehearsal for the 14th November edition of the show, Jade suffered a serious injury to her right knee, and therefore was forced to withdraw on the 21st November. She stated that she was "devastated" to withdraw but had to be "realistic" and praised her dance partner Ian Waite
Ian Waite
Ian Waite is a professional Latin-American dancer, teacher and choreographer.-Biography:Waite was born in Reading, UK. He started dancing at the age of 10. Mary Richardson, a former Latin American champion put him through a rigorous medallist regime...
for his support. Johnson returned with the other celebrities to perform at the final, and was given an extended time slot so she could perform the Tango
Tango (ballroom)
Ballroom Tango is a ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European, American, Hollywood, and competitive influences into the style and execution of the dance....
that she had been due to perform before having to pull out.