British Record Holder Cindy Sember Retires from Professional Athletics

The three-time Olympian, European indoor and Commonwealth Games medallist, Cindy Sember has announced her retirement from professional athletics.

The British record holder over 100m hurdles, Sember leaves the sport as one of Britain’s most successful sprint hurdlers, having won five consecutive outdoor national titles between 2019 and 2024. She represented Team GB at three Olympic Games, most notably finishing fourth at the Rio 2016 final.

“Retirement has been a difficult decision to make, but now just feels like the right time. I am proud of everything I have accomplished and ready to see what’s next for me.

“I am very grateful for all the opportunities and achievements I have had, and for being able to travel the world and experience new things. I really enjoyed everything I was able to do throughout my career.”

During a career spanning more than a decade, Sember represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at European, World and Olympic level. Among her most memorable achievements was winning silver in the women’s 60m hurdles at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, securing her first major international medal after overcoming several injuries and setbacks.

She followed that success by breaking the British 100m hurdles record at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in 2022, clocking 12.50 seconds to become the fastest British woman in history over the event. Breaking her own sister’s record.

Just weeks later, Sember delivered another standout performance, claiming bronze for Team England in the 100m hurdles at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Reflecting on the achievement, she said: “Birmingham was so special. It was my first outdoor medal. The crowd was amazing and they all sang happy birthday to me on the podium. It’s a moment I will never forget.”

The journey was not without challenges. Following the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Sember suffered an injury that ruled her out of the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London.

She said: “It was a really hard time but a pivotal moment in my career. I was able to push through it. I had a lot of resilience, and I was able to come back stronger. I used that time to reflect and tell myself I would return as a stronger athlete.”

Reflecting on the wider impact athletics has had on her life, Sember added: “Athletics teaches you so many things. The lessons you learn in sport can be transferred into everyday life, including discipline, resilience and grit. I have faced challenges outside of athletics and I know that if I can overcome difficulties as an athlete, I can overcome them away from the sport too.”

Sember retires as one of Britain’s leading sprint hurdlers, having represented her country on the sport’s biggest stages while inspiring the next generation through her resilience and success and we wish her the very best in her next chapter.