Ten Essential Facts about… Lisa Dobriskey 

Lisa Dobriskey is a middle distance athlete who has battled injury to compete in London 2012. Here are her vital statistics.  

Age: 28
Born: Ashford, England.
Sport: Middle distance athlete

Dobriskey’s talent was first apparent aged 11 when she stormed her school sports day 800m race.

By 16 years old, she was Britain’s fastest under-17 girl at 800m and fourth fastest at 1,500m.

The following year, she made her international debut as a junior in the 1,500m against Germany and France.

Coming into the Olympics, Dobriskey has been plagued by injury. After sustaining two injuries in the 2010 season earlier this year she was diagnosed with blood clots on her lungs and advised to take six months out of the sport.

Dobriskey’s father Mike was also involved in the Olympics. He is a soil consultant on the decontamination team that prepared the site around the main 2012 Olympic stadium.

 In 2009, a photographic portrait of Lisa appeared in an exhibition that was part of the "Road to 2012" project at the National Portrait Gallery.

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne Dobriskey was a surprise winner picking up her first international championship gold medal.

Dobriskey competed in the Beijing Olympics, missing out on a bronze medal to come fourth in the final of the 1500 m. This pushed her ranking to fourth in the world.