Jessica Ennis
Reigning European Champion
Born: 28th January 1986
Coach: Toni Miniciello
Club: City of Sheffield
Event: Heptathlon
Jessica was born in Sheffield and as a 10 year old she took part in the Aviva Startrack at Don Valley Stadium. Her first season as a senior athlete in 2006 proved her potential as she achieved a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne - at her first major championships.
In May 2007 she equaled the 25 year old British High Jump record for women by jumping 1.95m as well as earning a Aviva UK Indoor Championships 60m hurdles Gold. Later that year she excelled in her first World Championships finishing 4th just behind Olympic bronze medalist, Kelly Sotherton.
Early 2008 brought a Aviva UK Indoor Champions High Jump title for Jessica. But then heartbreak ensued in the run up to the Olympics, as her dreams were shattered having suffered a stress fracture injury which ruled her out of the Beijing Games.
Jessica became a household name in 2009 after winning the heptathlon gold at the World Championships in Berlin; and in 2010, matched this performance in the World Indoor Championships. Later that year she also added European Heptathlon Gold to her ever-growing list of titles. Her points total of 6823 to take Gold was just eight points shy of Olympic champion, Denise Lewis' national record.
In 2011 at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Jessica aimed to become the first ever British women to defend a World title but unfortunately had to settle for a very-respectible Silver medal, by just being beaten to the Gold by Russia's Tatyana Chernova.
Phillips Idowu
Reigning European Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist
Born: 30th December 1978
Coach: Aston Moore
Club: Belgrave Harriers
Event: Triple Jump
Phillips was introduced to athletics by his PE teachers who spotted his talent for jumping, as a talented all-round sportsman he excelled at basketball and American Football at school but was most successful in athletics. In 1997 Phillips came to attention as a triple jumper when he won the English Schools Championships and the under-20 national title, and by coming fourth in the European Junior Championships at the end of the year.
Ranked in the top 10 triple jumpers in the world in 2000 and finishing sixth in the 2000 Olympic Games, Phillips then continued his success in 2001 winning the European Cup. His first major international medal came when he won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, setting a new personal best of 17.68m. Later in 2002 he was placed 5th in the European Championships.
In March 2006, Idowu triumphed at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, winning gold and in 2007 beat fellow Brit Nathan Douglas to gold in the European Indoor Championships. Phillips went on to win the IAAF Golden League Bislett Games in June 2007 with a distance of 17.35m and by July 2007 he was ranked the number three triple jumper in the world.
2008, saw Phillips win his first world title, taking the gold medal at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Spain. His jump of 17.75m also broke the British and Commonwealth Indoor record previously held by Jonathan Edwards.
Idowu took silver in the men's triple jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and whilst disappointed with the result, Phillips took this in good faith commenting on looking forward to London 2012. In August 2009 Phillips fulfilled his potential by winning Gold at the World Championships in Berlin, and then repeated his gold medal winning performance by taking the Triple Jump title at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona.
In 2011, at the IAAF World Championships in Korea, Phillips recorded the second biggest jump of his life with 17.77m but unfortunately failed to defend his title, and like fellow Aviva UKA Academy ambassador Jessica Ennis, had to settle for a silver medal.
Christine Ohuruogu
Reigning Olympic Champion
Born: 17 May 1984, Newham
Coach: Lloyd Cowan
Club: Newham & Essex Beagles
Event: 400m
Christine was born in Newham, East London close to the site of the London 2012 stadium. She began her sporting career at St. Edwards C of E Secondary School in Romford, Essex and became a multi-talented pupil. She achieved national honours in netball, playing at England Under 17 level and Under 19 level, before concentrating on athletics.
After deciding to run the 800m race at a school sports day and winning, she was encouraged to join Newham & Essex Beagles AC by her PE teacher and a few years later took Bronze in the 400m at the European Junior Championships, her first major championships. A year later she made her Olympic debut in Athens and reached the semi final of the 400m, just missing out on a place in the final.
In 2006, Christine became Commonwealth Games Champion in Melbourne, Australia, she followed this with Gold at the World Championships in 2007 and Olympic Gold in Beijing in 2008. She is the only athlete to currently hold the Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games titles.
Christine studied Linguistics at University College London and is one of eight children. She launched the Aviva UKA Academy at her old school St. Edward’s C of E Secondary School in Essex on 3 June 2009. She is keen to inspire young people to take up athletics in her role as Ambassador and ensure there is lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games in her home city.
David Weir
Double Paralympic Champion
Born: 5th June 1979, Carshalton
Coach: Jenny Archer
Club: Unattached
Event: T54 Wheel racer
David was introduced to wheelchair racing at his primary school Bedelsford School in Kingston. His teacher got an application form for the London Mini Marathon and asked David whether he would like to race, so he first represented his school at the age of 8 in the London Mini Marathon and never looked back!
He made his Paralympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games at the age of 17, but then had a few years out of the sport, missing the Sydney Paralympic Games. He met up again with his coach Jenny Archer a couple of years later and set his sights on becoming the best Wheelchair racer in the world.
His record now includes three London marathon victories in a row and four titles in total. He took Bronze and Silver at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, then stormed to double Gold in the 800m and 1500m in Beijing 2008, plus Bronze and Silver in the 5,000m and 400m. Earlier this year, David underlined his superb talent by taking in Gold in the 800, 1500, and 5000 metres at the IPC World Championships in New Zealand. His training is now geared towards more success at the London 2012 Games in his home city.
He is a big fan of Arsenal FC and is fully behind the development of Aviva Parallel Success in additional to his wider role as Ambassador of the UKA Academy encouraging young people to pursue their dreams in the sport.
Iwan Thomas MBE
British 400m Record Holder and Former European and Commonwealth Champion
Born: 5th January 1974, Farnborough
Club: Newham and Essex Beagles
Event: 400m
Iwan was first inspired to take up athletics after watching the British team of Roger Black, Derek Redmond, John Regis and Kris Akabusi win the Gold in the 4 x 400m relay at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo. A year later, Iwan got his first athletics breakthrough at World Junior Athletics Championships as part of the British 4 x 400m relay team that finished 5th.
Throughout his school years, Iwan loved most sports and played 'County' standard in all he tried; but knew he had a real talent for athletics after taking part in 5 events at his school sports day, and breaking all 5 school records! Upon finishing secondary school, and taking his 'A-Levels', he went on to study Sport Science and Leisure Management at the West London Institute of Higher Education (now Brunel University); and whilst still at university he took part in the 400m at the 1994 Commonwealth Games where he reached the semi-finals, representing Wales. From there, he was selected to represent Britain in the 4 x 400m relay at 1995 European Athletics Cup and secured his first championship gold medal.
At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Iwan finished 5th in 400m Final and took the Silver medal in the 4 x 400m relay alongside Jamie Baulch, Mark Richardson and Roger Black.
In recent years, Iwan can now be seen lighting-up some of the Aviva Series events as an outstanding track-side presenter.
