# Ben Challenger > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Challenger > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Challenger.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Challenger > Source revision: 1317407629 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|English high jumper (born 1978)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Ben Challenger | nationality = British (English) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|3|7|df=y}} | birth_place = [Loughborough](/source/Loughborough), England | sport = [Athletics](/source/Sport_of_athletics) | event = High jump | club = [Belgrave Harriers](/source/Belgrave_Harriers) | height =186 cm | weight =75 kg | spouse = Lucy Challenger | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's [athletics](/source/Athletics_(sport))}} {{Medal|Competition|[Commonwealth Games](/source/Commonwealth_Games)}} {{MedalSilver| [1998 Kuala Lumpur](/source/1998_Commonwealth_Games) | [high jump](/source/Athletics_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games)}} {{Medal|Bronze| [2002 Manchester](/source/2002_Commonwealth_Games) | High Jump}} {{Medal|Competition|[Universiade](/source/Universiade)}} {{Medal|Gold| [1999 Palma de Mallorca](/source/1999_Summer_Universiade) | High Jump}} }} '''Benjamin Arthur Challenger''' (born 7 March 1978) is an English retired [high jump](/source/high_jump)er. His career highlight is winning a silver medal at the [Commonwealth Games](/source/Commonwealth_Games) and competing at the [2000 Summer Olympics](/source/2000_Summer_Olympics).{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/86910 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=11 July 2025}} ==Biography == Born in [Loughborough](/source/Loughborough), [Leicestershire](/source/Leicestershire), Challenger attended Shepshed High School and later he studied [sports science](/source/sports_science) at [Loughborough University](/source/Loughborough_University) (a course he later abandoned in favour of full-time high jump training).{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sydney/story/0,,364578,00.html |title=Interview: Ben Challenger | Special reports |website=Guardian.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-07-03}} As a youth he considered a career in basketball, and toured the US with the [Leicester Riders](/source/Leicester_Riders), leading to offers from [NBA](/source/NBA) talent scouts acting for US universities, which he turned down. He represented [England](/source/England_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games) at the [1998 Commonwealth Games](/source/1998_Commonwealth_Games) in [Kuala Lumpur](/source/Kuala_Lumpur), Malaysia, winning a silver medal,{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/kuala-lumpur-1998/athletes |title=Malaysia 1998 Team |website=Team England |access-date=11 July 2025 }} and his personal best jump of 2.30 metres was achieved when he won the [1999 Summer Universiade](/source/1999_Summer_Universiade). At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, he represented [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics) in the high jump event. He represented the [England team](/source/England_at_the_2002_Commonwealth_Games) again at the [2002 Commonwealth Games](/source/2002_Commonwealth_Games) in Manchester and won a bronze medal.{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/manchester-2002/athletes |title=Manchester 2002 Team |website=Team England |access-date=11 July 2025}} Challenger was a five-times [British high jump champion](/source/List_of_British_champions_in_high_jump) after winning the British [AAA Championships](/source/AAA_Championships) title from 2000 to 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=11 July 2025}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=11 July 2025}} He is the son of the [Showaddywaddy](/source/Showaddywaddy) drummer, [Romeo Challenger](/source/Romeo_Challenger), and the brother of singer [Tamzin Challenger](/source/Tamzin_Challenger).{{cite web | url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/15449047.adver-chat-romeo-challenger-on-life-with-showaddywaddy/ | title=ADVER CHAT; Romeo Challenger on life with Showaddywaddy | date=2 August 2017 }} Challenger is married to recruitment consultant and fitness instructor Lucy.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lucychallenger.com/about/|title=About|first=Adrian|last=Deaconu|website=Lucychallener.com|accessdate=27 January 2020}} Together they run Studio Challenger in Berkshire, a pilates school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.studiochallenger.com/|title=Pilates: Personal Trainer & Coach - Studio Challenger|website=Studiochallenger.com|accessdate=27 January 2020}} ==Competition record== {| {{AchievementTable}} |- !colspan="6"|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}} |- |1996 |[World Junior Championships](/source/1996_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Sydney, Australia](/source/Sydney%2C_Australia) |bgcolor=silver|2nd |[2.21 m](/source/1996_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |rowspan=2|1997 |[European Junior Championships](/source/1997_European_Athletics_Junior_Championships) |[Ljubljana, Slovenia](/source/Ljubljana%2C_Slovenia) |bgcolor=silver|2nd |2.20 m |- |[Universiade](/source/Athletics_at_the_1997_Summer_Universiade) |[Catania, Italy](/source/Catania%2C_Italy) |11th |[2.10 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_1997_Summer_Universiade_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |rowspan=2|1998 |[European Indoor Championships](/source/1998_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships) |[Valencia, Spain](/source/Valencia%2C_Spain) |10th |[2.22 m](/source/1998_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |[Commonwealth Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games) |[Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia](/source/Kuala_Lumpur%2C_Malaysia) |bgcolor=silver|2nd |[2.28 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |rowspan=3|1999 |[Universiade](/source/Athletics_at_the_1999_Summer_Universiade) |[Palma de Mallorca, Spain](/source/Palma_de_Mallorca%2C_Spain) |bgcolor=gold|1st |[2.30 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_1999_Summer_Universiade_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |[European U23 Championships](/source/1999_European_Athletics_U23_Championships) |[Gothenburg, Sweden](/source/Gothenburg%2C_Sweden) |bgcolor=gold|1st |[2.30 m](/source/1999_European_Athletics_U23_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |[World Championships](/source/1999_World_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Seville, Spain](/source/Seville%2C_Spain) |25th (q) |[2.20 m](/source/1999_World_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |2000 |[European Indoor Championships](/source/2000_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships) |[Ghent, Belgium](/source/Ghent%2C_Belgium) |14th (q) |[2.16 m](/source/2000_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |2001 |[World Championships](/source/2001_World_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Edmonton, Canada](/source/Edmonton%2C_Canada) |17th (q) |[2.20 m](/source/2001_World_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |rowspan=2|2002 |[Commonwealth Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_2002_Commonwealth_Games) |[Manchester, United Kingdom](/source/Manchester%2C_United_Kingdom) | style="background:#c96;"|3rd |[2.25 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_2002_Commonwealth_Games_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |[European Championships](/source/2002_European_Athletics_Championships) |[Munich, Germany](/source/Munich%2C_Germany) |16th (q) |[2.15 m](/source/2002_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |2005 |[World Championships](/source/2005_World_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Helsinki, Finland](/source/Helsinki%2C_Finland) |14th (q) |[2.24 m](/source/2005_World_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |- |2006 |[Commonwealth Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_2006_Commonwealth_Games) |[Melbourne, Australia](/source/Melbourne%2C_Australia) |8th |[2.15 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_2006_Commonwealth_Games_%E2%80%93_Men's_high_jump) |} == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == *{{World Athletics}} {{Footer U23 European Champions High Jump Men}} {{Footer Universiade Champions High Jump Men}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Challenger, Ben}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Loughborough University Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England Category:English men high jumpers Category:British men high jumpers Category:English people of Antigua and Barbuda descent Category:Sportspeople of Antigua and Barbuda descent Category:Medalists at the 1999 Summer Universiade Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Sportspeople from Loughborough Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for Great Britain Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ben Challenger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Challenger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Challenger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.