The double Olympic gold medallist of 2004 topped a poll of more than 2,000 UK people, followed by world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe and 1992 Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell.

 

"The last 25 years has seen British women really propel themselves to the forefront of sport," Dame Kelly commented.

 

"Some real sporting heroes and unforgettable moments have taken place which is why I'm so proud to even feature.

 

"Over the last couple of years sportswomen have had huge success, especially with British women winning the majority of medals at the start of the Beijing Games.

 

"The papers were full of female medallists, providing strong role models for young women, which is what sport is all about."

 

Holmes's achievement in taking the 800 and 1500 metres titles at the Athens Olympics placed second in a related poll for UK's most iconic moment in British women’s sport in the last 25 years.

 

That accolade went to Jane Torvill, as in partnership with Christopher Dean she earned perfect marks with their 'Bolero' routine in the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics to win ice dancing gold.
 

Dame Ellen MacArthur earned third place for her sailing feat in producing the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, with swimmer Rebecca Adlington, double gold medallist at last year’s Beijing Games, placing fourth.

 

The  research marks the 25th birthday of the charity that works to make physical activity an integral part of life for women and girls, and whose new report, entitled "Celebrating Silver, Going for Gold", details the hurdles which still need to be overcome.

 

The report details milestones in women's sport since 1984, which was the year when women were first able to compete in an Olympic marathon.

 

It also notes the awarding of equal pay awarded to men and women at Wimbledon from 2007 and more recently, some of women’s England cricket and football international players receiving central contracts – allowing them to play as paid professionals for the first time.

 

Sue Tibballs, the chief executive of WSFF, said: "There's so much to cheer about from the last 25 years of women's sport, both on and off the field.

 

"It was the same year that Torvill and Dean produced perfect scores at the Winter Olympics that WSFF was born, and it's been great looking back at all the strides that have since been taken.

 

"Although this year we are 'celebrating silver' with our 25th birthday, WSFF continues to work towards a gold standard for women’s sport - there's still some way to go.

 

"We want to see more money being invested, more women playing senior roles and more media coverage."

 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]

 

 

Full results of the WSFF polls

UK's favourite British sportswoman of the past 25 years
1. Dame Kelly Holmes
2. Paula Radcliffe
3. Sally Gunnell
4. Jayne Torvill
5. Dame Ellen McArthur and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
7. Denise Lewis
8. Rebecca Adlington
9.  Tessa Sanderson
10.  Zara Phillips

 

UK's most iconic moment in British women’s sport in the last 25 years
1. 1984 - Torvill and Dean shock the world with their perfect 'Bolero' in ice dancing
2. 2004 – Kelly Holmes wins gold in the 800m and 1500m at Athens Olympics
3. 2005 – Ellen MacArthur sails into history books breaking the world record for fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe
4. 2008 – Rebecca Adlington wins double gold in the pool at the Beijing Olympics
5. 2003 – In the London Marathon Paula Radcliffe breaks the world record by nearly two minutes
6. 2008 – Paralympic swimmer and youngest team member at 13 years old, Eleanor Simmonds wins two golds
7. 2008 – Britain's women cyclists rule the world as Nicole Cooke takes road racing gold and Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Romero take gold on the track at the Beijing Olympics
8. 2009 – England women's cricket team win the World Cup in Australia and then the Twenty20 World Cup on home soil
9. 1992 – Sally Gunnell wins gold in 400m hurdles and helps Britain win bronze in 4x400m relay at Barcelona Olympics
10. 1984 – Britain's women enjoy success in the Olympic javelin with Tessa Sanderson winning gold and Fatima Whitbread winning bronze

 

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