Jo Pavey

She did the 800m/1500m double at AAA Championships, at both Under 15 and Under 17 level. It was therefore unsurprising that she made her Junior international debut at the age of just 15.

Jo made her senior debut at the 1997 World Championships in Athens but missed the next two years due to injury. Nonetheless she ran 15:18.51 on her 5000m debut in 2000 and followed up with a second place at the AAA Championship to earn selection for the Sydney Olympics.

In the Olympic final she ran under fifteen minutes for the first time (14:58.27) to come 12^th in the final. She again ran well in 2001, taking her first Senior AAA title in the 5000m.

In 2002 she finished fifth in both Commonwealth Games and European Championships despite a virus. Back to health by the end of the season, she recorded 3000m and 5000m personal bests on the Grand Prix circuit. Her 1500m personal best was reduced to 4:02.03 in Rome and further good runs at that distance persuaded her to run that event at the 2003 World Championships rather than the 5000m. Her decision paid off as she finished 10th in Paris.

In 2006 she took silver in the Commonwealth Games 5000m in Melbourne and just missed out on a medal at the European Championships in Gothenburg placing fourth.

Her fourth place at the 2007 World Championships 10000m final in Osaka is her best world level result to date and she approaches the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games hopeful of a medal winning performance.

Coached by husband Gavin, she is a qualified physiotherapist.

Find out more about Jo at www.jopavey.com