Ashia Hansen

Ashia Hansen (born 5 December 1971 in Evansville, Indiana, USA) is an athlete who is considered Britain's greatest-ever female triple jumper.

Related Topics:
5 December - 1971 - Evansville, Indiana - USA - Britain - Triple jump

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Although born in the USA, Hansen was adopted at the age of 3 months by a Ghanaian father and a British mother and grew up in the UK after spending a few years in Ghana.

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Hansen is a member of the Birchfield Harriers Athletics Club in Birmingham, along with other successful British athletes such as Denise Lewis, Kelly Sotherton, Mark Lewis-Francis and Katharine Merry.

Related Topics:
Birchfield Harriers - Birmingham - Denise Lewis - Kelly Sotherton - Mark Lewis-Francis - Katharine Merry

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Hansen has also represented Great Britain (and England) on the international stage at a senior level since 1994, competing at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, as well as the World and European Championships and the World and European Cups.

Related Topics:
Olympic - Commonwealth Games - World - European Championships

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At the 1998 European Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain, Hansen won the gold medal with a world record jump of 15.16m.

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She was awarded the MBE in 2003.

Related Topics:
MBE - 2003

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Hansen suffered a serious knee injury during the 2004 European Cup, requiring surgery and is currently (as at April 2005) recuperating with a view to competing in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Related Topics:
2006 Commonwealth Games - Melbourne - Australia

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