Valerie Winn
Born
Valerie Margaret Ball

31 August 1929
Colombo, Ceylon
Died27 March 2023
NationalityBritish
Other namesValerie Ball
Alma materTalbot Heath School
OccupationSprinter
SpouseChris Winn
Parent

Valerie Margaret Ball-Winn (31 August 1929 – 27 March 2023) was a British athlete active during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Biography

Early life and family

Born in Colombo, Ceylon to Sir Nigel Ball, Ball-Winn relocated to Kew Gardens, London, in 1943.[1][2] She attended Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth.[1] She was married to Chris Winn, an athlete in rugby union and cricket, who died in 2017.[1][2] They had two daughters and a son.[1]

Career

In 1948, Ball-Winn joined the Spartan Ladies Athletics Club and, over the next five years, competed in 81 races, winning 74.[1][2]

During her career, Valerie excelled in the 400m and 800m events, winning six consecutive Women's Amateur Athletic Association 400m titles.[3] Her international exposure was limited due to the era's constraints on British women athletes, but she still set a world record in the 3x880 yard relay in 1949 and earned medals in several international competitions.[3]

Competing as Valerie Ball and mentored by Olympic sprinter Harold Abrahams, she established a world record in the 880 yards in 1952 and participated in relay teams that set three world records: 4x220yd, 3x800m, and 3x800yd.[1]

Ball-Winn's successes contributed to debates surrounding women's participation in longer track events.[1] Restrictions during the 1952 Olympics prevented her from competing in her signature distances.[1][2] Her career-best performance in the 800m was 2:13.3, recorded at the 1954 European Championships, where she finished 6th.[3]

After her competitive career, Ball-Winn coached at Barn Elms, London, and was involved in tennis.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Valerie Winn, athlete who helped to lead the way in opening up Olympic track events for women – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 22 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Valerie Winn". September 14, 2023 – via The Times.
  3. 1 2 3 Cobley, John. "Racing Past-The Life of Valerie Winn (née Ball)". Racing Past.
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