1980 100m Talbot Games - Sonia Lannaman

[hurdler600]

I think sonia had a bilateral achilles tendon operation around this time and it was drawing her career to a close. Have you oticed hat all top athletes have approximatley a 10 to 12 year career no matter how young or old they start. ie Lannaman started competing internatioally at 13 and finnished at age 25.

Cram, Coe, Ovett Christie, Wells Etc were similar. SO folks youve only got 12 years max so make the most of it !. I would love to hear some comments on this ?

[BR4D1MVP]

Sonia was one of our unsung heroes, I wonder what she is doing know.

[Westy196740]

@BR4D1MVP I could find out. I see her husband often, he's a physio

[athlete5399]

Yes, she ran 11.45 at a very young age! She was in fact 24 in this year that she ran 11.20. Injury blighted her from those years onwards, although she had a pretty full season in 1982 but not to her usual standard (again due to early season injury)

[paulouk83]

apologies... i got carried away with the ages, but still a massive waste of talent!

[athlete5399]

yes, it was a shame that she had so many injuries. Her Olympics would have been 1976, she was right up there and beating the likes of Stecher before the games (and we all know how Stecher got where she did!) so she was such a natural talent.

[hurdler600]

Sonia had a very ill mother and only trained 3 times per week! what an athlete and talent

[athlete5399]

Oh! I didnt realise that! I knew she only trained a few times a week but i didnt know that was the reason. Yes, she was a rare talent!

[paulouk83]

sonia lannaman was a huge talent that didnt really take off she ran 11.45 aged 16 into a minues 1.3 head wind!and 11.20 aged 20 in this very year... what a shame nothing after that...

[cjportmaria]

Wow.. Merlene walked out of the blocks

[athlete5399]

Yeah, it's funny that a few weeks later she runs 22.3 for a bronze at moscow!