Ben Challenger

Benjamin Arthur Challenger (born 7 March 1978) is a retired English high jumper. His personal best jump of 2.30 metres was achieved when he won the 1999 Summer Universiade. His career highlight is a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Ben Challenger
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born (1978-03-07) 7 March 1978
Loughborough, Leicestershire
Spouse(s)Lucy Challenger
Medal record
Men's athletics
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 1998 Kuala Lumpur high jump
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Manchester High Jump
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1999 Palma de Mallorca High Jump

Born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, Challenger attended Shepshed High School and later he studied sports science at Loughborough University (a course he later abandoned in favour of full-time high jump training).[1] As a youth he considered a career in basketball, and toured the US with the Leicester Riders, leading to offers from NBA talent scouts acting for US universities, which he turned down.

He is the son of the Showaddywaddy drummer, Romeo Challenger, and the brother of singer Tamzin Challenger.[2]

Challenger is married to recruitment consultant and fitness instructor Lucy.[3] Together they run Studio Challenger in Berkshire, a pilates school.[4]

Competition record
YearCompetitionVenuePositionNotes
Representing  Great Britain and  England
1996 World Junior Championships Sydney, Australia 2nd 2.21 m
1997 European Junior Championships Ljubljana, Slovenia 2nd 2.20 m
Universiade Catania, Italy 11th 2.10 m
1998 European Indoor Championships Valencia, Spain 10th 2.22 m
Commonwealth Games Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2nd 2.28 m
1999 Universiade Palma de Mallorca, Spain 1st 2.30 m
European U23 Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 1st 2.30 m
World Championships Seville, Spain 25th (q) 2.20 m
2000 European Indoor Championships Ghent, Belgium 14th (q) 2.16 m
2001 World Championships Edmonton, Canada 17th (q) 2.20 m
2002 Commonwealth Games Manchester, United Kingdom 3rd 2.25 m
European Championships Munich, Germany 16th (q) 2.15 m
2005 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 14th (q) 2.24 m
2006 Commonwealth Games Melbourne, Australia 8th 2.15 m

References
  1. "Interview: Ben Challenger | Special reports". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  2. "ADVER CHAT; Romeo Challenger on life with Showaddywaddy".
  3. Deaconu, Adrian. "About". Lucychallener.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  4. "Pilates: Personal Trainer & Coach - Studio Challenger". Studiochallenger.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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