Biography
Rule Brit Tanni
Tanni first tries wheelchair racing at St. Cyres Comprehensive School, age 13. At 15, she shocks everyone by winning the 100 metres at the Junior National Wheelchair Games. At 18, Tanni is a member of the Bridgend Athletics Club, the British Wheelchair Racing Squad and is selected for her first World Wheelchair Games.
A year later, in 1988 at Seoul, Tanni represents Britain and wins her first Paralympic medal, the 400m bronze. Then, spinal surgery forces a year away from the track but incredibly, at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, Tanni storms to victory taking four gold medals in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres. The same year, she wins her first of six London Wheelchair Marathons.
Tanni wins the 800 metres gold in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics along with three silver medals in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. At the 2000 Sidney Paralympics, 31 year old Tanni returns with a vengeance, striking gold a fabulous four times in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres. In Athens 2004, aged 35, she takes first place in the 100 and 400 metres bringing her Paralympic gold medal tally to an astonishing eleven.
