Heather Fell
Encyclopedia
Heather Fell (born 3 March 1983 in Plymouth
, England) is a British
modern pentathlete
. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
, winning the silver medal in the women's modern pentathlon
event.
, where she was taught to ride
and shoot, both disciplines in the pentathlon, by the parents of the 2000 Olympic
pentathlon bronze medallist Kate Allenby
. Heather has a degree in physiotherapy from Brunel University
.
, Fell nearly gave up the sport in 2006 when, due to a series of shin splint injuries, her funding was cut by UK Sport
. She described this as giving her "the kick up the arse I needed", and, forced to stop training at the University of Bath
's facilities due to the cost of living in the city, she moved back home with her parents, funding her continued training with three part-time jobs; as a swimming coach, a barmaid and a physiotherapist. Her funding was not restored until she qualified for the Olympics.
2007 brought her first medal success in a World Cup event, with bronze in Moscow
. Fell won an individual silver medal at the 2007 European Championships in Riga
, reaching the Olympic qualifying standard in doing so. She also won a gold medal as part of the relay team, with Katy Livingston
and Georgina Harland
.
In 2008 Fell won medals at two events on the World Cup circuit, gold at Millfield
and bronze in Kladno
. In Kladno she went into the final discipline, the run, in 5th place, but moved up two positions with a personal best, she had also set a PB in the swimming. At the World Championships, in Budapest
, she finished just outside of the medals in 4th place in the individual event but picked up silver medals as a member of the squads in team event, with Georgina Harland and Mhairi Spence, and team relay event, with Katy Livingston and Spence.
, in Beijing
, Fell won the silver medal in the women's individual event
, behind Lena Schoneborn
of Germany
. In the first discipline, the air pistol shooting, she scored 185 out of a possible 200, this corresponded to 1156 points and 6th place. Results of 880 points in the fencing
, 1328 points in the freestyle swimming
, and 1144 points in the show jumping
followed, leaving her in 2nd position, with a 19 second deficit on leader Schoneborn, heading into the 3000 m run. Fell completed the run in 10 minutes 19.24 seconds, a time worth 1244 points, giving her a final total of 5752 points. Despite closing the gap on Schoneborn by 9 seconds she was unable to catch her and take victory. She said after the medal ceremony, "It's pretty obvious that I don't regret deciding to stick with it."
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
modern pentathlete
Modern pentathlon
The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, winning the silver medal in the women's modern pentathlon
Modern pentathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's
The women's Modern pentathlon competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing will be held on August 21 and August 22 at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium , Ying Tung Natatorium , and the Olympic Green Convention Centre .The results of each of the five segments of the modern pentathlon were...
event.
Early life
Fell grew up in Tavistock, DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, where she was taught to ride
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
and shoot, both disciplines in the pentathlon, by the parents of the 2000 Olympic
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
pentathlon bronze medallist Kate Allenby
Kate Allenby
Kate Allenby is a British modern pentathlete who competed in two Summer Olympics .She was born in London.Allenby won a bronze medal in 2000 at Sydney...
. Heather has a degree in physiotherapy from Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
.
Career
After initial success at junior level, including two gold and one silver medal in the 2003 World Junior Championships in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Fell nearly gave up the sport in 2006 when, due to a series of shin splint injuries, her funding was cut by UK Sport
UK Sport
UK Sport is the UK Government's organisation for directing the development of sport within the home countries.-History:The Sports Council previously had been formed in 1972, and had the motto Sport for All. There was also the Central Council of Physical Recreation. In July 1994 it was decided to...
. She described this as giving her "the kick up the arse I needed", and, forced to stop training at the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
's facilities due to the cost of living in the city, she moved back home with her parents, funding her continued training with three part-time jobs; as a swimming coach, a barmaid and a physiotherapist. Her funding was not restored until she qualified for the Olympics.
2007 brought her first medal success in a World Cup event, with bronze in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Fell won an individual silver medal at the 2007 European Championships in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, reaching the Olympic qualifying standard in doing so. She also won a gold medal as part of the relay team, with Katy Livingston
Katy Livingston
Katy Livingston is a British modern pentathlete who has competed at the Olympic Games.-Early life:...
and Georgina Harland
Georgina Harland
Georgina Harland is a modern pentathlete from Great Britain, who won the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Her score of 5344 is broken down as follows:* Shooting—808* Fencing—832...
.
In 2008 Fell won medals at two events on the World Cup circuit, gold at Millfield
Millfield
Millfield is an independent school in Street in Somerset, in south-west England.The school currently has a roll of 1,260 pupils, of whom 910 are boarders...
and bronze in Kladno
Kladno
Kladno is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 25 km northwest of Prague. Kladno is the largest city of the region and holds a population together with its adjacent suburban areas of more than 110,000 people...
. In Kladno she went into the final discipline, the run, in 5th place, but moved up two positions with a personal best, she had also set a PB in the swimming. At the World Championships, in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, she finished just outside of the medals in 4th place in the individual event but picked up silver medals as a member of the squads in team event, with Georgina Harland and Mhairi Spence, and team relay event, with Katy Livingston and Spence.
2008 Olympic Games
At the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Fell won the silver medal in the women's individual event
Modern pentathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's
The women's Modern pentathlon competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing will be held on August 21 and August 22 at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium , Ying Tung Natatorium , and the Olympic Green Convention Centre .The results of each of the five segments of the modern pentathlon were...
, behind Lena Schoneborn
Lena Schöneborn
Lena Schöneborn is a German pentathlete, who won the gold medal in the Modern Pentathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is living in Berlin and besides Pentathlon she is studying Business Administration....
of Germany
Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Germany competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. A total of 439 athletes were nominated to participate in the Games...
. In the first discipline, the air pistol shooting, she scored 185 out of a possible 200, this corresponded to 1156 points and 6th place. Results of 880 points in the fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, 1328 points in the freestyle swimming
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, and 1144 points in the show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
followed, leaving her in 2nd position, with a 19 second deficit on leader Schoneborn, heading into the 3000 m run. Fell completed the run in 10 minutes 19.24 seconds, a time worth 1244 points, giving her a final total of 5752 points. Despite closing the gap on Schoneborn by 9 seconds she was unable to catch her and take victory. She said after the medal ceremony, "It's pretty obvious that I don't regret deciding to stick with it."
See also
- Modern pentathlon at the 2008 Summer OlympicsModern pentathlon at the 2008 Summer OlympicsModern pentathlon competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were held on August 21 and August 22 at the Olympic Sports Centre Stadium , Ying Tung Natatorium , and the Olympic Green Convention Center .-Medal summary:- Men :An NOC may enter up to 2 athletes in each event...
- Great Britain at the 2008 Summer OlympicsGreat Britain at the 2008 Summer OlympicsGreat Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The United Kingdom was represented by the British Olympic Association , and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. Britain is one of only five NOCs to have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...