Sheila Sherwood
Encyclopedia
Sheila Sherwood is a former international Long jump
er whose career highlights included a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico, and a gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
in Edinburgh. She competed in three consecutive Summer Olympic Games
(1964, 1968 and 1972) and had a career best distance of 6.73 metres.
As a child, her parents were Caretaker and Head Cook at St Thomas More School in nearby Grenoside
Sherwood attended Yew Lane and Ecclesfield schools in Sheffield. She first came to prominence as an athlete as a 16 year old as a member of the Sheffield based Hallamshire Harriers athletic club and competing under her maiden name of Sheila Parkin, when she created an English Schools long jump record in the summer of 1962. On the strength of this she was selected to represent Great Britain against Poland in August 1962 where she finished second behind former world record holder Elzbieta Krzensinska by just 2 cm. This performance started Sheila’s long and distinguished career as an international long jumper as it resulted in selection for the 1962 European championships
in Belgrade where she finished 12th and the 1962 Commonwealth Games
in Perth, Western Australia
where she achieved 5th position.
Sheila’s early career saw only a slight improvement in her jumping, she was eclipsed by fellow British jumper Mary Rand
on many occasions. Rand took the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games
where Sheila only finished 13th. However, it was in Tokyo
that Sheila met British hurdler John Sherwood
and a romance began that was to result in marriage three years later. Sheila’s relationship with John coincided with a marked improvement in her jumping performances. She took the silver medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games
in Kingston, Jamaica
behind Rand and at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City
she took the silver medal behind the Romanian Viorica Viscopoleanu
with a personal best leap of 6.68 metres.
Sheila took the gold medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
with a career best jump of 6.73 metres and finished fourth at the 1971 European Championships
in Helsinki
, however in her latter years in the sport she was hindered by back problems, despite this she was selected for the 1972 Olympic Games
in Munich
where she finished a commendable ninth. Her career as an international long jumper came to a conclusion at the 1974 Commonwealth Games
in Auckland
where she took seventh place. In the mid 1970s Sheila along with husband John left the Hallamshire Harriers to form the breakaway City of Sheffield Athletic Club
after amalgamating with another club, the Sheffield United Harriers.
Sheila is the mother of British international tennis player David Sherwood
who was born in 1980. After retiring from athletics she has worked as a physical education teacher at Myers Grove school in Sheffield.
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...
er whose career highlights included a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico, and a gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, and also the first time the games were held in...
in Edinburgh. She competed in three consecutive Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
(1964, 1968 and 1972) and had a career best distance of 6.73 metres.
As a child, her parents were Caretaker and Head Cook at St Thomas More School in nearby Grenoside
Grenoside
Grenoside is a suburb of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.-History:The name Grenoside is derived from the language of the Anglo-Saxons. The name Grenoside, which was first recorded in the thirteenth century as Gravenhou, is made up of the different elements. Gren from the Old English graefan...
Sherwood attended Yew Lane and Ecclesfield schools in Sheffield. She first came to prominence as an athlete as a 16 year old as a member of the Sheffield based Hallamshire Harriers athletic club and competing under her maiden name of Sheila Parkin, when she created an English Schools long jump record in the summer of 1962. On the strength of this she was selected to represent Great Britain against Poland in August 1962 where she finished second behind former world record holder Elzbieta Krzensinska by just 2 cm. This performance started Sheila’s long and distinguished career as an international long jumper as it resulted in selection for the 1962 European championships
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
in Belgrade where she finished 12th and the 1962 Commonwealth Games
1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....
in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
where she achieved 5th position.
Sheila’s early career saw only a slight improvement in her jumping, she was eclipsed by fellow British jumper Mary Rand
Mary Rand
Mary Denise Rand, MBE, is a former English track-and-field athlete. She won the gold medal in the long jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics by breaking the world record, becoming the first-ever British female to win an Olympic gold medal in a track and field event.-Early life:She is the daughter of...
on many occasions. Rand took the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
where Sheila only finished 13th. However, it was in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
that Sheila met British hurdler John Sherwood
John Sherwood (athlete)
John Sherwood is a British athlete, who won the bronze medal in the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968 for the 400 m hurdles. His time was 49.03 seconds, and he was third behind fellow British athlete David Hemery, who took gold, and German Gerhard Hennige...
and a romance began that was to result in marriage three years later. Sheila’s relationship with John coincided with a marked improvement in her jumping performances. She took the silver medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions....
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
behind Rand and at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
she took the silver medal behind the Romanian Viorica Viscopoleanu
Viorica Viscopoleanu
Viorica Viscopoleanu is a Romanian athlete who competed mainly in the long jump.She was born in Budinet, then in Romania, now in Ukraine....
with a personal best leap of 6.68 metres.
Sheila took the gold medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
with a career best jump of 6.73 metres and finished fourth at the 1971 European Championships
1971 European Championships in Athletics
The 10th European Athletics Championships were held from 10 August to 15 August 1971 in the Olympic Stadium of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.-Track:1966 |1969 |1971 |1974 |1978-Field:1966 |1969 |1971 |1974 |1978-Track:...
in 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...
, however in her latter years in the sport she was hindered by back problems, despite this she was selected for the 1972 Olympic Games
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
where she finished a commendable ninth. Her career as an international long jumper came to a conclusion at the 1974 Commonwealth Games
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
where she took seventh place. In the mid 1970s Sheila along with husband John left the Hallamshire Harriers to form the breakaway City of Sheffield Athletic Club
City of Sheffield Athletic Club
The City of Sheffield Athletic Club is one of the North of England's premier clubs, with a senior men's team which is in the Premiership of the British Athletics League. They have a mix of athletes from varied cultural backgrounds from ages 8 year olds to seniors and veterans...
after amalgamating with another club, the Sheffield United Harriers.
Sheffield United Harriers.
The Sheffield United Harriers is athletics club was formed in 1894 in Sheffield, England. Their original colours were red and white hoops. The first meeting of the club was reported in the Sporting Chronicle 22 May 1894....
Sheila is the mother of British international tennis player David Sherwood
David Sherwood
David Sherwood is a British tennis player.Sherwood is from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. In March 2005 he played with Andrew Murray in the Davis Cup, beating the Israeli doubles team....
who was born in 1980. After retiring from athletics she has worked as a physical education teacher at Myers Grove school in Sheffield.