Anyika 37, is a retired British sprint track and field athlete who competed in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres, and also the 4×100 metres relay and 4x400 metres relay.
Anyika is one of the few GB athletes of the past 20 years to achieve a full set of major medals.She has won medals at the Olympic Games, the world championships, Commonwealth Games and European championships.
Anyika has published a book about her life called - My Hidden Race.
“My Hidden Race is the story of Olympic medallist Anyika Onuora, who stood on the podium at every major championship in athletics.
This book won't go into detail about the technicalities of her sport or the beauty of the Olympic spirit however.
In the era of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too, this is an unflinching testimony of what it takes to pursue your dreams as a Black British woman against all odds.
This three-time Olympian will lift the lid on the reality of life as a black female athlete in Britain in a way that nobody else has done before her.
Nothing is off the record. She is revealing her life for the first time in this book with complete fearlessness.
There have been far too many years of silence caught in a system. Now Anyika is determined to make up for lost time and use her story to inspire and heal others.
My Hidden Race will take you into a world that often takes place far from the spotlight of the Olympic torch and shines an intense light on the brutal reality of professional sport for many black females.”
Listen to Anyika on the Tough Girl Podcast, new episodes go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.
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Listen to Anyika Now!
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Show notes
Who is Anyika and what she’s achieved
Working as a consultant and sharing more about her new book
Living between Liverpool and London
Her childhood and early years
Growing up in a sporty, competitive family
Being inspired by her older brother
Realising that she was good at running
Her dreams and ambitions as a little girl
The dream of becoming a professional athlete
Being shy and ambitious
How you progress to the professional level in athletics
Getting a degree while also competing as a full time athlete
Any regrets over missing out
Working hard for everything she has
Getting to the senior level and being consistent in performance
Competing at her first senior championships in Melbourne, Australia
Learning from her peers
The lessons learned from failure
Mental health and support and how it’s changed over the past 17/20 years
The lack of support to help with changes and transitions
Feeling disposable as an athlete
The pressure to perform and to be consistent
How expectations can weigh you down
Blocking out the pressure and working with a psychologist
Smiling and laughing to release the pressure
Getting into flow and what it’s like
The struggles 10 months before the Olympic games in Rio
Contracting malaria and ending up in hospital
Getting back to full fitness and getting ready for the Olympics
Focusing on getting the job done
What it was like winning a Bronze Medal in the 4x400m
Fitness and sport now
Making the transition to the next stage of her career
Figuring out what’s next
Getting qualified in Corporate Governance
Role models and the women who have inspired Anyika
Advice for women and girls who want to get into running
Figuring out your why
Remembering to have fun
Looking after her Olympic Medal
The shrine!
Book: My Hidden Race
Social Media
Instagram @anyika
Twitter @annyonuora
Book: My Hidden Race
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