# Donna Fraser > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Donna_Fraser > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Donna_Fraser.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Fraser > Source revision: 1345127697 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British sprinter (born 1972)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use British English|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Donna Fraser | image = Donna Fraser, 2011 (cropped).jpg | caption = Fraser competing in a UK Women's League match at Birmingham | nationality = British (English) | sport = [Athletics](/source/Sport_of_athletics) | event = Sprints/400m | club = [Croydon Harriers](/source/Croydon_Harriers) | birth_date = 7 November 1972 | birth_place = [Thornton Heath](/source/Thornton_Heath), [Croydon](/source/Croydon), England | death_date = | death_place = | height =180 cm | weight =64 kg | pb = | medaltemplates= {{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}} {{MedalSport | [Athletics](/source/Track_and_field_athletics)}} {{Medal|Competition|[World Championships](/source/IAAF_World_Championships_in_Athletics)}} {{Medal|Bronze|[2005 Helsinki](/source/2005_World_Championships_in_Athletics)|4x400 m relay}} {{Medal|Bronze|[2007 Osaka](/source/2007_World_Championships_in_Athletics)|4x400 m relay}} {{Medal|Competition|[Commonwealth Games](/source/Commonwealth_Games)}} {{Medal|Bronze|[1998 Kuala Lumpur](/source/1998_Commonwealth_Games)|400 m}} {{Medal|Bronze|[1998 Kuala Lumpur](/source/1998_Commonwealth_Games)|4x100 m relay}} {{Medal|Competition|[European Championships](/source/European_Athletics_Championships)}} {{Medal|Bronze|[1998 Budapest](/source/1998_European_Athletics_Championships)|4x400 m relay}} {{Medal|Competition|[European Indoor Championships](/source/European_Indoor_Championships_in_Athletics)}} {{Medal|Silver|[2009 Torino](/source/2009_European_Indoor_Championships_in_Athletics)|4x400 m relay}} {{Medal|Bronze|[2005 Madrid](/source/2005_European_Indoor_Championships_in_Athletics)|4x400 m relay}} {{Medal|Competition|[World Junior Championships](/source/World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics)}} {{Medal|Silver|[1990 Plovdiv](/source/1990_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics)|4x100 m relay}} {{Medal|Competition|[European Junior Championships](/source/European_Athletics_Junior_Championships)}} {{Medal|Gold|[1991 Thessaloniki](/source/1991_European_Athletics_Junior_Championships)|400 m}} {{Medal|Silver|[1991 Thessaloniki](/source/1991_European_Athletics_Junior_Championships)|4x100 m relay}} }} '''Donna Karen Fraser''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 7 November 1972) in [Thornton Heath](/source/Thornton_Heath), [Croydon](/source/Croydon) is an English former [athlete](/source/Track_and_field_athletics), who mainly competed in the [200](/source/200_metres) and [400 m](/source/400_metres). == Biography == An exceptional junior, Fraser won six English Schools 200 m titles (as well as a silver medal for the [4 × 100 m](/source/4_x_100_metres_relay) at the [1990 World Junior Championships](/source/1990_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics){{cite news|title=Farewell to fab Fraser|last=Moody|first=Fraser|date=2 September 2009|work=The Croydon Guardian (Printed edition)|pages=93}}{{cite news|url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/search/4576658.Fraser_looks_back_on_career/|title=Croydon Harrier Fraser looks back on career|last=Moody|first=Graham|date=2 September 2009|work=[Croydon Guardian](/source/Croydon_Guardian)|access-date=4 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325112950/http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/search/4576658.Fraser_looks_back_on_career/|archive-date=25 March 2017|url-status=dead}}) before turning to the 400 m in 1991 and becoming European Junior Champion at the distance the same year (also gaining a silver medal for the 4 × 100 m). However, she didn't improve until 1996, when she began to concentrate on the 400 metres and in 1997 Fraser won the [1997 British Athletics Championships](/source/1997_British_Athletics_Championships) 400 metres title and in addition she finished second behind Jamaican [Evadnie McKenzie](/source/Evadnie_McKenzie) in the 100 metres event at the [1997 AAA Championships](/source/1997_AAA_Championships).{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002135/19970826/020/0020 |title=Athletics |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=26 August 1997 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 April 2025 }} By virtue of being the highest placed British athlete at the AAAs she was considered the [British 100 metres champion](/source/List_of_British_champions_in_100_metres) as well.{{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=1 April 2025}} Fraser was an individual finalist and [{{nowrap|4 × 400 m}} relay](/source/4_x_400_metres_relay) relay team bronze medallist at the [European Championships](/source/1998_European_Athletics_Championships) and also won two bronze medals at the [1998 Commonwealth Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games) in Malaysia.{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/kuala-lumpur-1998/athletes |title=Malaysia 1998 Team |website=Team England |access-date=1 April 2025 }} However, it was at the 2000 Sydney Olympics that she finally realised her potential, after winning the [AAA title](/source/2000_AAA_Championships),{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/20000814/516/0027 |title=Athletics |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=14 August 2000 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=4 April 2025}} she shaved nearly a second off her personal best to finish fourth in the Olympic final with a time of 49.79 seconds. This achievement was largely attributed to her training alongside Olympic champion Cathy Freeman that season.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68653 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=1 April 2025}} Her career after 2000 stalled due to a catalogue of injuries (including a torn [achilles tendon](/source/achilles_tendon)) but she returned to win the 400 metres title at the [2005 AAA Championships](/source/2005_AAA_Championships){{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=1 April 2025 }} and win the [BBC London](/source/BBC_London) ''Athlete of the Year Award'' for 2005.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/image_galleries/sportsawards2005_gallery.shtml?8 Donna Fraser - BBC LONDON Athlete of the Year 2005] BBC, accessed 7 November 2007 At the [2007 World Championships in Athletics](/source/2007_World_Championships_in_Athletics), Fraser went as part of the 4 × 400 m relay squad. Despite not running in the final, she received a bronze medal, as she competed in the heats on the second leg.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} In September 2009, she announced that she was going to leave athletics to return to working full-time at [EDF Energy](/source/EDF_Energy). Her final major race was the 400 m at the British Grand Prix at [Gateshead](/source/Gateshead_International_Stadium), where she finished 7th with a time of 54.11 seconds. However, she has continued to race for the [Croydon Harriers](/source/Croydon_Harriers), an athletics club based at the [Croydon Sports Arena](/source/South_Norwood).{{cite web |url=http://www.croydonharriers.com/News/305/Fraser-returns-to-lift-senior-Harriers.htm |title=Club News |access-date=2011-07-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001002018/http://www.croydonharriers.com/News/305/Fraser-returns-to-lift-senior-Harriers.htm |archive-date=1 October 2011}} : Retrieved 11 July 2011. Fraser was appointed [Officer of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Officer_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (OBE) in the [2021 New Year Honours](/source/2021_New_Year_Honours) for services to equality, inclusion and diversity in the workplace.{{London Gazette|issue=63218|supp=y|page=N11|date=31 December 2020}} Fraser worked at the [Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games](/source/Birmingham_2022_Commonwealth_Games) Organising Committee as Head of Inclusion and Engagement. In 2022, she was named [World Athletics](/source/World_Athletics)' Woman of the Year.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-29 |title=Fraser wins Woman of the Year Award |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/awards/news/woman-of-the-year-2022-fraser |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=[World Athletics](/source/World_Athletics)}} ==Major achievements== {| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |+Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}} |- |rowspan=2|1990 |rowspan=2|[World Junior Championships](/source/1990_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics) |rowspan=2|[Plovdiv](/source/Plovdiv), Bulgaria |13th (sf) |200 m |[24.19](/source/1990_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Women's_200_metres) (wind: +0.5 m/s) |- |bgcolor=silver|2nd |4 × 100 m relay |[44.16](/source/1990_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Women's_4_%C3%97_100_metres_relay) |- |rowspan=2|1991 |rowspan=2|[European Junior Championships](/source/1991_European_Athletics_Junior_Championships) |rowspan=2|[Thessaloniki](/source/Thessaloniki), Greece |bgcolor=gold|1st |400 m |53.54 |- |bgcolor=silver|2nd |{{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} relay |44.57 |- |rowspan=4|1998 |rowspan=2|[European Championships](/source/1998_European_Championships_in_Athletics) |rowspan=2|[Budapest](/source/Budapest), Hungary |6th |400 m |[51.54](/source/1998_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_400_metres) |- |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |4 × 400 m relay |[3:25.66](/source/1998_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_4_%C3%97_400_metres_relay) |- |rowspan=2|[Commonwealth Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games) |rowspan=2|[Kuala Lumpur](/source/Kuala_Lumpur), Malaysia |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |400 m |[51.01](/source/Athletics_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games_%E2%80%93_Women's_400_metres) |- |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |{{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} relay |[3:29.28](/source/Athletics_at_the_1998_Commonwealth_Games_%E2%80%93_Women's_4_%C3%97_400_metres_relay) |- |2000 |[Olympics](/source/Athletics_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics) |[Sydney](/source/Sydney), Australia |4th |400 m |49.79 |- |rowspan=2|2005 |[European Indoor Championships](/source/2005_European_Indoor_Athletics_Championships) |[Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |4 × 400 m relay |[3:29.81](/source/2005_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_4_%C3%97_400_metres_relay) |- |[World Championships](/source/2005_World_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Helsinki](/source/Helsinki), Finland |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |4 × 400 m relay |[3:24.44](/source/2005_World_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Women's_4_%C3%97_400_metres_relay) |- |2007 |[World Championships](/source/2007_World_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Osaka](/source/Osaka), Japan |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |4 × 400 m relay |[3:25.45](/source/2007_World_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Women's_4_%C3%97_400_metres_relay)1 |- |2009 |[European Indoor Championships](/source/2009_European_Indoor_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Turin](/source/Turin), Italy |bgcolor=silver|2nd |4 × 400 m relay |[3:30.42](/source/2009_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_4_%C3%97_400_metres_relay) |} 1Time from the heats; Fraser was replaced in the final. {{s-start}} {{succession box | before= [Katharine Merry](/source/Katharine_Merry) | title = British Champion in 400m | years = 2000 | after = [Lesley Owusu](/source/Lesley_Owusu) }} {{succession box | before= [Christine Ohuruogu](/source/Christine_Ohuruogu) | title = British Champion in 400m | years = 2005 | after = [Nicola Sanders](/source/Nicola_Sanders) }} {{s-end}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{World Athletics}} * {{Team GB|5j5Wv14cg1Ndl6z33hrtLi}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20100204065032/http://www.olympics.org.uk/athletebio.aspx?at=1301 archive]) * {{Olympics.com|donna-fraser}} * {{Olympedia}} {{Footer UK NC 400 Metres Women}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Donna}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:English women sprinters Category:British women sprinters Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Olympic women sprinters Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Black British sportswomen Category:World Athletics Championships medalists Category:European Athletics Championships medalists Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from Croydon Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Croydon Category:21st-century English sportswomen Category:20th-century English sportswomen Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Donna Fraser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Fraser) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Fraser?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.