Jo Ankier
Encyclopedia
Joanna Ankier is a current television and radio broadcaster and a former British track athlete whose main event was the 3000 metres Steeplechase. She starred in the video for the successful London Olympic Bid, running through the sights of London inspiring people to "Back the Bid" and win London the Olympic Games.
In 2005, Ankier broke British Records in both the 1500m and 3000m Steeplechase events. After finishing 2nd in the European Cup, (Leiria
) she went on to compete in the first ever Women's Steeplechase in the 2005 IAAF World Championships (Helsinki
). Ankier also finished 7th in the Commonwealth Games (Melbourne
, 2006).
Ankier's parents are Stephen and Loretta Ankier. She has one sister, Esther, and attended the Henrietta Barnett School
, University of Nottingham
(where she studied physics and philosophy), and King's College London
, where she received a postgraduate sports law diploma. Ankier is Jewish.
Since retiring from professional athletics in 2008, Ankier has progressed her career outside of athletics as a television and radio broadcaster on channels including ESPN International
, Fox Soccer Channel
, Chelsea TV
and Sky Sports News
.
In 2005, Ankier broke British Records in both the 1500m and 3000m Steeplechase events. After finishing 2nd in the European Cup, (Leiria
Leiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
) she went on to compete in the first ever Women's Steeplechase in the 2005 IAAF World Championships (Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
). Ankier also finished 7th in the Commonwealth Games (Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 2006).
Ankier's parents are Stephen and Loretta Ankier. She has one sister, Esther, and attended the Henrietta Barnett School
Henrietta Barnett School
The Henrietta Barnett School is a voluntary-aided grammar school for girls in Hampstead Garden Suburb in London The Good Schools Guide called the school "One of the best academic state schools in the country, providing a gentle, inspiring education in a wonderful setting for very clever...
, University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
(where she studied physics and philosophy), and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, where she received a postgraduate sports law diploma. Ankier is Jewish.
Since retiring from professional athletics in 2008, Ankier has progressed her career outside of athletics as a television and radio broadcaster on channels including ESPN International
ESPN International
ESPN International is a family of networks around the world. It was begun in 1989 and is operated by ESPN. It consists of:Asia: *ESPN SEA*ESPN SEA 2*ESPN China*ESPN Hong Kong*ESPN India*ESPN Malaysia...
, Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer is an American television specialty channel, owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, that specializes in soccer. It formerly broadcast rugby and Australian rules football, but is now dedicated strictly to soccer...
, Chelsea TV
Chelsea TV
Chelsea TV is a British subscription based sports television channel, dedicated to the fans of the English Premier League football club, Chelsea. The channel first launched in August 2001 on Sky Digital. The station is registered with Ofcom as Chelsea Digital Media Ltd. It broadcasts daily from...
and Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News is a 24-hour sports news channel in the United Kingdom. It is run by BSkyB whose sports channels include Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Sky Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4....
.
Personal
Whilst studying Physics at Nottingham University, Ankier briefly dated Stephen Haigh, originator of the celebrated Haigh Manoeuvre™.See also
- List of select Jewish track and field athletes