Jessie Knight, the 30-year-old Olympic 400m hurdler, has announced her retirement following a standout career representing Great Britain. Knight, a dual specialist in the 400m and 400m hurdles, shared the news on Instagram, concluding a journey that saw her compete at two Olympic Games and achieve numerous national and international titles.
Starting her athletic career at just eight years old, Knight received her first call-up to the GB team at 26. She went on to represent her country in two Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and the Commonwealth Games. Throughout her career, Knight earned several prestigious relay medals at the World and World Indoor Championships, alongside five British titles in the 400m and 400m hurdles. Her indoor achievements include two gold medals in the 400m, while her outdoor success includes three British hurdles titles.
Reflecting on her decision to retire, Knight shared: “The time has come to say goodbye to competitive sport. I’m walking away with cherished memories, invaluable experiences, and lifelong lessons.” She highlighted the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as a fitting finale to her athletic career, having made it to the semi-finals and finishing sixth.
Knight’s personal bests of 51.57 seconds in the indoor 400m and 54.09 seconds in the 400m hurdles position her among the UK’s top athletes.
Notably, she balanced her athletic career with her role as a primary school teacher, even taking a brief break from athletics in 2017 to focus on education. However, she made a strong return to the sport in 2018, cementing her place as one of Britain’s premier 400m and 400m hurdles competitors.
Known for her resilience and determination, Knight leaves behind an impressive legacy, having earned multiple medals and achieved remarkable personal milestones.
In an exclusive interview with AW in the December issue, Knight reflects on her career and the decision to retire from professional athletics.
