Desirèe Henry

{{Short description|British sprinter (born 1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use British English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson |image = Desiree Henry Rieti 2013.jpg |caption = Henry at the [[2013 European Athletics Junior Championships|2013 European Junior Championships]] |full_name = Desirèe Latifah N. Henry |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|8|26}} |birth_place = [[Enfield, London|Enfield]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/desiree-henry/1WKTqTrySVP6DsSwyqWcGJ |title=Desiree Henry |work=[[Team GB]] |access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref> |height = 1.71 m |weight = 64 kg |sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]] |event = [[100 metres]], [[200 meters]] and [[400 meters]] |club = [[Enfield & Haringey AC]] |coach = Mike MacFarlane |medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Women's [[Sport of athletics|athletics]]}} {{Medal|Country|{{GBR2}}}} {{Medal|Olympic}} {{Medal|Silver|[[2024 Summer Olympics|2024 Paris]]|[[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}} {{Medal|Bronze|[[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Rio de Janeiro]]|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}} {{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}} {{MedalSilver|[[2017 World Championships in Athletics|2017 London]]|[[2017 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}} {{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]}} {{Medal|Gold|[[2014 European Athletics Championships|2014 Zürich]]|[[2014 European Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}} {{Medal|Gold|[[2024 European Athletics Championships|2024 Rome]]|[[2024 European Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}} {{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Junior Championships|European Junior Championships]]}} {{Medal|Gold|[[2013 European Athletics Junior Championships|2013 Rieti]]|4 × 100 m relay}} {{MedalSilver|[[2013 European Athletics Junior Championships|2013 Rieti]]|200 m}} {{Medal|Competition|[[World Youth Championships in Athletics|World Youth Championships]]}} {{Medal|Gold|[[2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics|2011 Lille]]|200 m}} {{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Relays|World Relays]]}} {{Medal|Gold|[[2025 World Athletics Relays|2025 Guangzhou]]|[[2025 World Athletics Relays – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}} {{Medal|Silver|[[2014 IAAF World Relays|2014 Nassau]]|4 × 200 m relay}} }}

'''Desirèe Latifah N. Henry'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/130203 |title=Desirèe Henry |work=[[Olympedia]] |access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref> (born 26 August 1995) is a British sprinter who competes in the [[100 metres]] and [[200 metres]]. She won an Olympic silver medal in the women's 4 × 100 metres relay at the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in Paris, the bronze medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Rio Games]], and a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the [[2017 World Athletics Championships]] in London.

== Early life == Henry was born on 26 August 1995 in [[Edmonton, London]]. She attended Highfield Primary School, [[St Anne's Catholic High School]] and [[City and Islington College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top award for World Youth Champion sprinter Desiree Henry |url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/top-award-world-youth-champion-sprinter-desiree-henry |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=Camden New Journal |language=en-gb}}</ref> She is of Antiguan and Guyanese descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsamericasnow.com/meet-the-caribbean-roots-athletes-of-the-winning-british-teams-at-iaaf-2017/|title=Latest Caribbean and Latin America News|date=15 August 2017|access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref>

== Career == Henry is the [[2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics|2011 World Youth Champion]] in the [[200 meters]]. Her personal bests are 11.06 for the [[100 meters]], 22.46 for the [[200 meters]] and 52.27 in the [[400 meters]] all set in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=46405|work=Power of 10|title=Desiree Henry|access-date=13 August 2015}}</ref>

Henry was one of seven young people who lit the [[2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics cauldron|Olympic cauldron]] at the [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony]]. All were nominated by famous British Olympians, with Henry being nominated by decathlete [[Daley Thompson]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bloom|first=Ben|title=Desiree Henry: from lighting London's Olympic flame to competing in Rio|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2016/06/25/desiree-henry-from-lighting-londons-olympic-flame-to-competing-i/|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=13 August 2020}}</ref>

She ran the anchor leg as Great Britain won the 4 × 100 metres relay at the [[2014 European Athletics Championships|2014 European Championships]] in Zurich.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/education/21239824.islington-teenager-desiree-henry-wins-european-gold-4x100m/|title=Islington teenager Desirèe Henry wins European gold in 4X100m|work=Islington Gazette|date=19 August 2014 |accessdate=18 July 2024}}</ref>

Henry improved her personal bests in 2016 to 11.06 in the [[100 meters]] and 22.46 in the [[200 meters]] and earned selection for the Rio Olympics. She began sprinting over [[400 meters]] in 2015 but soon returned to shorter distances. In Rio, she reached the semifinals of the 100 metres, running 11.09, having run 11.08 in her heat. She went on to win a bronze medal in the sprint relay, setting a new British record of 41.77, along with her teammates [[Asha Philip]], [[Dina Asher-Smith]] and [[Daryll Neita]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36691182|title=Rio Olympics 2016: Great Britain win Olympic women's 4x100m relay bronze|department=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=20 August 2016|access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>

She won a silver medal as part of the 4 × 100 metres relay team at the [[2017 World Athletics Championships]] in London <ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/report-womens-4x100m-relay-final-iaaf-world|title=Women's 4x100m relay final IAAF World Championships London 2017|publisher=World Athletics|accessdate=18 July 2024}}</ref> and gold in the same event at the [[2024 European Athletics Championships]] in Rome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/double-gold-delight-on-final-night-at-european-athletics-championships/|title=DOUBLE GOLD DELIGHT ON FINAL NIGHT AT EUROPEAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS|publisher=British Athletics|accessdate=18 July 2024}}</ref>

On 5 July 2024, Henry was named in the British 4 × 100 metres relay squad for the [[2024 Summer Olympics|Paris Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/team-gb-athletics-squad-confirmed-for-paris-2024/|title=TEAM GB ATHLETICS SQUAD CONFIRMED FOR PARIS 2024|publisher=GB Athletics|accessdate=18 July 2024}}</ref> She won a silver medal in the event, having run on the last leg in the heats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/paris24/news/article/paris-2024-olympics-morning-day-8-usa-4x100m-johnson-thompson-thiam|title=US teams enjoy 4x100m heats success as Johnson-Thompson takes early heptathlon lead in Paris|website=[[World Athletics]]|last=Rowbottom|first=Mike|date=8 August 2024|access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref>

== International competitions == {| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |- !colspan=6|Representing {{GBR2}} |- |2011 |[[2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics|World Youth Championships]] |[[Lille]], France |bgcolor=gold|1st |200 m |23.25 |- |2012 |[[2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]] |[[Barcelona]], Spain |4th |200 m |23.34 |- |rowspan=2|2013 |rowspan=2|[[2013 European Athletics Junior Championships|European Junior Championships]] |rowspan=2|[[Rieti]], Italy |bgcolor=silver|2nd |200 m |23.56 |- |bgcolor=gold|1st |4 × 100 m |43.81 |- |rowspan=5|2014 |[[2014 IAAF World Relays|World Relays]] |[[Nassau, Bahamas]] |bgcolor=silver|2nd |4 × 200 m |1:29.61 |- |rowspan=2|[[2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]] |rowspan=2|[[Eugene, Oregon]], United States |4th |100 m |[[2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres|11.56]] (wind: -1.0 m/s) |- | — |4 × 100 m |[[2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|DNF]] |- |rowspan=2|[[2014 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]] |rowspan=2|[[Zürich]], Switzerland |7th |[[2014 European Athletics Championships – Women's 100 metres|100 m]] |11.43 (11.21) |- |bgcolor=gold|1st |4 × 100 m |[[2014 European Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.24]] |- |2015 |[[2015 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] |[[Beijing]], China |4th |4 × 100 m |[[2015 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.10]] |- |rowspan=3|2016 |[[2016 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]] |[[Amsterdam, Netherlands]] |2nd (sf) |100 m |[[2016 European Athletics Championships – Women's 100 metres|11.09]]1 |- |rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] |rowspan=2|[[Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]] |12th (sf) |100 m |[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|11.09]] |- |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |4 × 100 m |[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|41.77]] |- |rowspan=2|2017 |rowspan=2|[[2017 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] |rowspan=2|[[London]], [[United Kingdom]] |18th (sf) |100 m |[[2017 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres|11.24]] |- |bgcolor="silver"| 2nd |4 × 100 m |[[2017 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.12]] |- |2019 |[[2019 IAAF World Relays|World Relays]] |[[Yokohama, Japan]] | – |4 × 100 m |[[2019 IAAF World Relays – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|DNF]] |- |rowspan=2|2024 |[[2024 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]] |[[Rome]], [[Italy]] |bgcolor=gold|1st |4 × 100 m |[[2024 European Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|41.91]] |- |[[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] |[[Paris, France]] |2nd (h) |4 × 100 m |[[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.03]] |- |2025 |[[2025 World Athletics Championships|World Championships]] |[[Tokyo, Japan]] |4th |4 × 100 m |[[2025 World Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.07]] |} '''Note:''' Results in brackets indicate superior time achieved in qualifying rounds.

1Did not finish in the final

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{World Athletics|great-britain-ni/desiree-henry-14360349|Desiree Henry}} * {{Diamond League|name=Desiree Henry}} * {{Olympics.com|name=Desiree Henry}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20240730145011/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/desiree-henry_1956843 Desiree Henry] at the [[Paris 2024 Summer Olympics]] (archived, [https://paris2024.rtve.es/es/paris-2024/atleta/desiree-henry_1956843 alternate link]) * {{InterSportStats|name=Desirèe Henry}} * {{Instagram|name=Desirèe Henry}}

{{S-start}} {{S-sports|oly}} {{Succession box|title=[[List of people who have lit the Olympic Cauldron|Final Olympic torchbearer]] (with Callum Airlie, Jordan Duckitt, Katie Kirk, Cameron MacRitchie, Aidan Reynolds, and [[Adelle Tracey]])|before=[[Catriona Le May Doan]], [[Steve Nash]], [[Nancy Greene]] and [[Wayne Gretzky]]|after=[[Irina Rodnina]] and [[Vladislav Tretiak]]|years=[[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012]]}} {{Succession box| title=[[List of people who have lit the Olympic Cauldron|Final Summer Olympic torchbearer]] (with Callum Airlie, Jordan Duckitt, Katie Kirk, Cameron MacRitchie, Aidan Reynolds, and [[Adelle Tracey]])|before=[[Li Ning]]|after=[[Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima]]|years=[[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012]]}} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Henry, Desiree}} [[Category:1995 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Blackpool]] [[Category:English women sprinters]] [[Category:British women sprinters]] [[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]] [[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain]] [[Category:Olympic cauldron lighters]] [[Category:English people of Antigua and Barbuda descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople of Antigua and Barbuda descent]] [[Category:English people of Guyanese descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople of Guyanese descent]] [[Category:Black British sportswomen]] [[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]] [[Category:Olympic women sprinters]] [[Category:Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain]] [[Category:Olympic bronze medalists in athletics]] [[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]] [[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics]] [[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]] [[Category:21st-century English sportswomen]]