3 months ago
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We are finally days away from the 2024 Olympic Games, and something about it makes you feel a sense of normalcy. The pandemic robbed us of what could have been an amazing showcase in Tokyo but now we’re finally in Paris where we will no doubt see a record or two broken.
Millions from around the world will tune in to watch the new stars of today give it everything they’ve got, but we should never forget those who set the pace to begin with. Speaking to the very first Black British woman to win an Olympic Gold medal, Tessa Sanderson.
Tessa, you were the FIRST Black Woman to win an Olympic Gold for the UK in 1984, when you first heard that level of accolade what did it feel like? Did it ever feel overwhelming?
Well, actually, I didn't realise it was history in the making until after I got home. I just went out there to fling that javelin like hell and boy did I throw it like hell, won it and then went home. When I got home, I saw everything that was happening on TV and the late Ron Pickering had said “We know it, she knows it, the gold medal is hers and that’s history” and I thought, "Oh, hello. Let me have a look." That was when I realised I had made history.
It was a fantastic feeling, I felt absolutely over the world after the first throw I did because I knew it was an Olympic record and I thought, "OK, you're gonna have to chase this real hard" because 69.56 meters I knew was world-class throwing. But I also knew that between the three or four of us who were at the top, we could have all probably got close in that distance – It was a very overwhelming moment; winning, being on the Olympic podium, and just feeling the euphoria of everything and knowing that you've beaten everybody in the world. Fantastic.
I can imagine how elated you felt, that is THE goal of every athlete.
It's sort of extraordinary to learn that you're the first Black female because at the time, we wanted a lot more young Black girls to get into sport, so I knew there'd be a lot of them watching and just thinking, "Oh, this is great". When I eventually got home, seeing how many kids were now trying to throw a javelin, especially girls in there, it was really great to see.
I feel that I'm a community person and so it's just a great feeling when you go out there in the community and people tap you on the back and say "Go on girl". Some people even call me a queen lately and I thought, "Oh, hello, I'm not that yet" but it's a lovely feeling.
You are a queen. You set the pace and inspired so many. Since your win in 1984, only seven Black women in the UK have meddled – multiple wins – but just seven women. When you hear that number do you think the landscape has changed a lot for Black women in sport or do you believe there’s still a lot of work to do?
Well, I think I'm really honoured to know that there are only seven, it's amazing to hear that. I think what has been encouraging with my win, and these women coming through as well, there's more inspiration. We can say "Look here's a precedent and here's a pathway to get through to doing other things." In sport we need to get into the boardrooms, we need more Black people in the boardrooms. It's proven a way forward and I'm happy for that because we're not now sort of in the doldrums. There's enough confidence and courage to go forward and think, "I am good enough, never mind about my skin because I'm going to be in there."
Looking at the world of sport there definitely is a lot of diversity within the athletes in the UK compared to when you started, but as you touched on, there isn’t that much behind the scenes today; and there was next to none when you started. Can you speak on some of the challenges you faced in your career as a Black athlete at that time?
When I started, there really weren't so many Black people involved in sports like you're saying, but now I think that's changed an awful lot because I'd like to feel that I had created a pathway. It's not a glorified pathway, you still have to work.
I think it's a shame that we still do see racism in sports, especially in football. That's a sad thing to see. When you look at athletics and look at football and many other sports there's a vast amount of Black people, and they're what's holding the team together. We all go out there, wear our country shirt and we love it. This is our country. I was born in Jamaica and Jamaica will always be the motherland, but this is my home and I'm proud to wear that British shirt, so don't come with all this sort of thing about my skin or whatever. I'm winning for me and I'm winning for you guys so be thankful and be grateful.
This year at the games it's going to be 40 years since your Olympic Gold medal and you’re being celebrated by hosting the GB House. When talks came about for you to do that how did you feel about being celebrated all over again?
I had to pinch myself at times I'm telling you, Ada. I had a function at the House of Lords, which celebrated my 40th year of winning this Olympic gold medal and I thought "Wow is it really 40?" I had my whole family; my mom flew from Jamaica to be there, my sister, my brothers, my cousins, extended family and friends – my hubby, my twins. I thought "God this is really coming home". It's fantastic.
In 40 years no one has broken that record here. No one has an Olympic throwing gold medal from here and someone said to me "How do you feel?" Well, I'll tell you, I love it, I love it and if someone were to break the record in Paris that's great but let’s see it happen. It would be nice to see it happen.
It would be nice to see but your legacy is still your legacy and you will be always the first to do it.
And I’m loving every moment, if it's another 40 years, I hope I live to see it because I will still love it.
Amen, we’ll do an 80-year celebration!
I’ll be on my sticks celebrating but one thing Ada, I’ll still have my gold medal to bring in.
Exactly!
English (US) ·