View source for Denise Lewis

{{Short description|British television personality and former athlete (born 1972)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix = [[Dame]]
| name = Denise Lewis
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|DBE]]
| image = Denise Lewis - Soccer Aid for Unicef 2025.jpg
| imagesize = <!--Only for images narrower than 220 pixels.-->
| caption = Denise Lewis at [[Soccer Aid]] for Unicef (2025)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|08|27}}
| birth_place = [[West Bromwich]], [[Staffordshire]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
| country = {{GBR2}}
| event = [[Heptathlon]]
| club = [[Birchfield Harriers]]<br>[[Wolverhampton & Bilston AC]]
| coach = [[Charles van Commenee]], Darrell Bunn
| retired = 2005
| coaching = 
| worlds = 
| regionals = 
| nationals = 
| olympics = 
| paralympics = 
| highestranking = 
| pb = 6,831 pts (2000)
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Women's [[Sport of athletics|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{GBR2}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Silver| [[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 Athens]] | [[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Silver| [[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 Sevilla]] | [[1999 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[1998 European Championships in Athletics|1998 Budapest]] | [[1998 European Athletics Championships – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Cup Combined Events|European Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | 1995 Helmond | Heptathlon}}
{{Medal|Silver | 2003 Brixen | Heptathlon}}
{{Medal|Country|{{ENG}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[1994 Commonwealth Games|1994 Victoria]] | Heptathlon}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]] | Heptathlon}}
| show-medals = yes
}}

'''Dame Denise Rosemarie Lewis''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|DBE}} (born 27 August 1972) is a British [[sport management|sports administrator]] and former [[sports presenter]] and [[track and field|athletics]] athlete, who specialised in the [[heptathlon]].

She won the [[gold medal]] in the heptathlon at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]], was twice [[Commonwealth Games]] champion, was the [[1998 European Athletics Championships|1998 European Champion]], and won [[World Athletics Championships|World Championships]] silver medals in [[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997]] and [[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999]]. She was the first European to win the [[Olympic heptathlon]], though Europeans, including Briton [[Mary Peters (athlete)|Mary Peters]], had won the Olympic pentathlon precursor event.

Her [[personal best]] score for the heptathlon is 6,831 points, set at the [[Décastar]] meeting in 2000. That is a former [[List of British records in athletics|British record]] and ranks her third on the all-time British lists behind double World, double Commonwealth Games champion [[Katarina Johnson-Thompson]] and Olympic, three-time World and European champion [[Jessica Ennis-Hill]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglist.aspx?event=HepW&agegroup=ALL&sex=W&alltime=y |title=HepW Women Overall All Time to 4857 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720172633/https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglist.aspx?event=HepW&agegroup=ALL&sex=W&alltime=y |archive-date=20 July 2020 |work=Power of 10 |access-date=2019-10-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.european-athletics.org/records/season=0/type=0/category=S/index.html |title=Senior Outdoor All time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321074854/https://www.european-athletics.org/records/season=0/type=0/category=S/index.html |archive-date=21 March 2020 |publisher=[[European Athletic Association]] |access-date=2019-10-03 }}</ref> Along with these two and pentathletes [[Mary Rand]] and [[Mary Peters (athlete)|Dame Mary Peters]], Lewis is recognised as one of Britain's greatest female multi-eventers, and the first in the line of British global champions in heptathlon.

Since retiring from athletics, she has undertaken work on television and other media work, and was a regular athletics pundit for [[BBC Television]], including during the Olympic Games in [[London 2012]],  [[Rio 2016]], [[2020 Summer Olympics|Tokyo 2020]] and [[2024 Summer Olympics|Paris 2024]]. It was announced that she had stepped down from her role at the BBC on the conclusion of the athletics programme at the 2024 Games.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=10 August 2024 |title=BBC Sport Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1822371461568315704?t=HhAo-aoAAB-JAAnYsaFvXg&s=19 |website=Twitter}}</ref>

In addition to her media work, Lewis is president of [[Commonwealth Games England]] which is the official [[Commonwealth Games Association]] for [[England at the Commonwealth Games]] and, since 2023, president of [[UK Athletics]], the governing body for the sport of Athletics in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dame Denise Lewis elected UK Athletics president |language=en-GB |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/67695341 |access-date=2023-12-12}}</ref>

==Early career==
{{Unreferencedsect|date=June 2025}}
In her early heptathlete career at senior level Lewis won gold at the [[1994 Commonwealth Games]], bronze at the [[1996 Olympics]], silver at the 1997 World Championships, gold at the [[1998 Commonwealth Games]] and European Championships and silver at the 1999 World Championships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denise Lewis {{!}} Team GB |url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/denise-lewis/5veDG6PiOhW3liNdrIv7JU |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=www.teamgb.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

== 2000 Olympics ==
The first day of the 2000 Summer Olympics heptathlon was 23 September. In the first event, Lewis recorded 13.23 seconds<ref name=UKathletics/> for the [[100 metres hurdles]], to be in second place behind the world champion, [[Eunice Barber]], who had finished in 12.97 seconds. [[Ghada Shouaa]], the 1996 Olympic champion, pulled out after only 20 metres of her heat.

After a poor performance in the [[high jump]], clearing only 1.75m,<ref name=UKathletics>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.ukathletics.net/supporters/hall-of-fame-athletes/denise-lewis/
 |title       = Denise Lewis
 |access-date  = 10 July 2008
 |publisher   = UK Athletics.net
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080709150751/http://www.ukathletics.net/supporters/hall-of-fame-athletes/denise-lewis/
 |archive-date = 9 July 2008
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> some way off her personal best, Lewis was in eighth place, 152 points behind Barber who had increased her lead. In the third event, the [[shot put]], Lewis recorded a distance of 15.55m,<ref name=UKathletics/> placing her second, 30 points behind [[Natallia Sazanovich]] and 45 points ahead of former world champion [[Sabine Braun]]. Barber's distance of 11.27m put her in eighth place.

In the final event of the day, the [[200 metres]], Lewis recorded a time of 24.34 sec.<ref name=UKathletics/> Braun's time placed her in sixth position. A strong run by [[Natalya Roshchupkina]] moved her from sixth position to second, pushing Lewis into third place.

At the end of the first day, the points scored were:
# Natallia Sazanovich, [[Belarus|BLR]]: 3,903
# Natalya Roshchupkina, [[Russia|RUS]]: 3,872
# '''Denise Lewis''', [[United Kingdom|GBR]]: 3,852
# [[Urszula Włodarczyk]], [[Poland|POL]]: 3,805
# [[Yelena Prokhorova]], RUS: 3,771
# Sabine Braun, [[Germany|GER]]: 3,770
# Eunice Barber, [[France|FRA]]: 3,707
# [[Karin Ertl|Karin Specht-Ertl]], GER: 3,697

The first event on the second day was the [[long jump]]. Lewis's best jump was 6.48m,<ref name=UKathletics/> marginally behind Yelena Prokhorova and Sazanovich. [[Eunice Barber]], struggling with injury, withdrew after this event. In event six, the [[javelin throw|javelin]], Lewis achieved a throw of 50.19m.<ref name=UKathletics/> With her closest rivals some way further back she moved into first place, with Sazanovich 63 points behind in second place and Prokhorova in third a further 83 points behind.

In the final event, the [[800 metres]], Lewis ran with the lower part of her left leg bandaged due to a calf and [[Achilles tendon]] injury, aiming to stay close enough to the race leaders to maintain her points advantage.<ref name=UKathletics/> Prokhorova won the race convincingly and when Lewis crossed the line behind Sazanovich it was not clear, at first, if Lewis's time of 2:16.83 was enough to retain first place.<ref name=UKathletics/> After the individual points had been calculated, it was announced that Lewis had won with a total of 6,584 points.<ref name=UKathletics/> Prokhorova was second with 6,531 (53 points behind Lewis), and Sazanovich was third with 6,527 (4 points behind Prokhorova).<ref name=UKathletics/>

== 2004 Olympics ==
At the 2004 Olympics, Lewis was suffering from a number of injuries and withdrew from the competition after the long jump.<ref name=UKathletics/> Teammate and training partner [[Kelly Sotherton]] took bronze.

==Statistics==
===Personal bests===
{| class=wikitable
!Event
!Best
!Date
!Meeting
!Venue
!Notes
|-
|100 m hurdles || 13.13 seconds || 29 July 2000 || [[Décastar]] || [[Talence]], France || 
|-
|200 m || 24.06 seconds || 25 May 1996 || [[Hypo-Meeting]] || [[Götzis]], Austria || 
|-
|800 m || 2 min 12.20 seconds || 30 July 2000 || [[Décastar]] || [[Talence]], France || 
|-
|High jump || 1.87 m || 21 August 1999 || [[1999 World Championships in Athletics]] || [[Seville]], Spain || 
|-
|Long jump || 6.69 m || 30 July 2000 || [[Décastar]] || [[Talence]], France || 
|-
|Shot put || 16.12 m  || 21 August 1999 || [[1999 World Championships in Athletics]] || [[Seville]], Spain || 
|-
|Javelin || 54.82 m || 28 July 1996 || [[1996 Atlanta Olympic Games]] || [[Atlanta]], United States || 
|-
|Heptathlon || 6,831 points || 30 July 2000 || [[Décastar]] || [[Talence]], France || 100H 13.13<br>HJ 1.84<br>SP 15.07<br>200m 24.01w<br>LJ 6.69<br>JT 49.42<br>800m 2:12.20<ref name="HOFame">{{cite web | url=https://www.uka.org.uk/ba-home-straight/hall-of-fame-athletes/denise-lewis/ | title=UKA Official Website, Denise Lewis | publisher=UK Athletics Ltd. | access-date=31 May 2018 | archive-date=12 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412193542/http://www.uka.org.uk/ba-home-straight/hall-of-fame-athletes/denise-lewis/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

===Seasonal bests===
{{Chart|definition=Denise Lewis seasonal bests in a Heptathlon.chart|data=Denise Lewis seasonal bests in a Heptathlon.tab|Width=400}}

===International competitions===
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}}
|-
|1991
|[[1991 European Athletics Junior Championships|European Junior Championships]]
|[[Thessaloniki]], Greece
|5th
|Heptathlon
|5,476 pts
|-
|rowspan=3|1994
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], Canada
|8th
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Women's long jump|Long jump]]
|6.32 m
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,325 pts
|-
|[[1994 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|19th (q)
|[[1994 European Athletics Championships – Women's long jump|Long jump]]
|6.20 m
|-
|rowspan=2|1995
|[[1995 European Cup Combined Events|European Cup Combined Events]]
|[[Helmond]], Netherlands
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Heptathlon
|6,299 pts
|-
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg]], Sweden
|7th
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,299 pts
|-
|rowspan=4|1996
|[[1996 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
|[[Stockholm]], Sweden
|8th
|[[1996 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's long jump|Long jump]]
|6.42 m
|-
|[[1996 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[Madrid]], Spain
|4th
|Long jump
|6.66 m
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Atlanta]], United States
|23rd (q)
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's long jump|Long jump]]
|6.33 m
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,489 pts
|-
|rowspan=2|1997
|[[1997 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[Munich]], Germany
|4th
|Long jump
|6.56
|-
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,654 pts
|-
|rowspan=2|1998
|[[Athletics at the 1998 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[Athletics at the 1998 Commonwealth Games – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,513
|-
|[[1998 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Budapest]], Hungary
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[1998 European Athletics Championships – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,559 pts
|-
|1999
|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Seville]], Spain
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,724 pts
|-
|2000
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Sydney]], Australia
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,584 pts
|-
|2001
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Edmonton]], Canada
| —
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|{{AthAbbr|DNS}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2003
|[[2003 European Cup Combined Events|European Cup Combined Events 1st League]]
|[[Tallinn]], Estonia
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Heptathlon
|6,282 pts
|-
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Paris]], France
|5th
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|6,254 pts
|-
|2004
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
| —
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]
|{{AthAbbr|DNF}}
|}

===National titles===
*[[AAA Championships]]<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm AAA Championships (Women)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004105233/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |date=4 October 2018 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>
**Long jump: [[1996 AAA Championships|1996]], [[1998 AAA Championships|1998]]
*[[AAA Indoor Championships]]<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaai.htm AAA Indoor Championships (Women)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918002631/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaai.htm |date=18 September 2018 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>
**60 m hurdles: [[1997 AAA Indoor Championships|1997]]
**Long jump: [[1994 AAA Indoor Championships|1994]], [[1995 AAA Indoor Championships|1995]], [[1998 AAA Indoor Championships|1998]]
**Shot put: [[2004 AAA Indoor Championships|2004]]†

:† Lewis was the top placed Briton at the 2004 AAA Indoor shot put behind Sweden's [[Helena Engman]]

*[[AAA Junior Championships]]<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaaj.htm AAA Junior Championships] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030222908/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaaj.htm |date=30 October 2018 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>
**Heptathlon (under-17): 1988
**Long jump: 1989
*[[British Schools International Match]]<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/bs.htm British Schools International Match] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629172947/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/bs.htm |date=29 June 2016 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03.</ref>
**Long jump: 1988
*English Schools Championships<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/esg.htm |title=English Schools Championships (Girls). GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-03. |access-date=3 October 2019 |archive-date=17 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917181536/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/esg.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
**Long jump: 1986 (junior), 1987 (intermediate)

===Circuit wins===
*[[Décastar]]: 2000

==Honours, awards and recognition==
For services to sport, Lewis was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[1999 New Year Honours]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55354 |date=31 December 1998 |page=18 |supp=y }}</ref> [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2001 New Year Honours]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56070 |date=30 December 2000 |page=12 |supp=y }}</ref> and [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in the [[2023 New Year Honours]] .<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=63918 |supp=y |page=N9 |date=31 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-30 |title=New Year Honours 2023: Brian May and Lionesses on list |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64125449 |access-date=2022-12-30 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230224942/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64125449 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2000, Lewis was also presented with the [[Freedom of the City]] of the [[Wolverhampton]]. Lewis, in 2013, was honoured at the annual Wolverhampton Famous Sons & Daughters Awards ceremony,<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/10/11/gongs-galore-for-wolverhamptons-top-talents/ | title = Gongs galore for Wolverhampton's top talents | newspaper = [[Express & Star]] | date = 11 October 2013 | access-date = 18 November 2015 | archive-date=18 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118192857/http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/10/11/gongs-galore-for-wolverhamptons-top-talents/sonsdaughters27ae10/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://nativemonster.com/lifestyle/showbiz/liam-payne-wolverhampton-honour-is-most-important-award-ive-received | title = Liam Payne: Wolverhampton honour is most important award I've received | website = nativemonster.com | date = 11 October 2013 | access-date = 18 November 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118225315/http://nativemonster.com/lifestyle/showbiz/liam-payne-wolverhampton-honour-is-most-important-award-ive-received | archive-date=18 November 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> and in 2014, was presented with an honorary degree from the [[University of Wolverhampton]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-09-09/olympian-denise-lewis-awarded-honorary-degree/ | title = Olympian Denise Lewis awarded honorary degree | publisher = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] | date = 9 September 2014 | access-date = 18 November 2015 | archive-date = 18 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118221511/http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-09-09/olympian-denise-lewis-awarded-honorary-degree/ | url-status=live }}</ref> She was also inducted into the Wolverhampton Sporting Hall of Fame in 2010,<ref>{{ cite web | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/blackcountry/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9001000/9001294.stm | title = Denise Lewis and Bert Williams get Hall of Fame honour | publisher = [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] | work = [[BBC News]] | date = 15 September 2010 | access-date = 9 November 2016 | archive-date=18 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118140424/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/blackcountry/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9001000/9001294.stm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/09/27/bert-williams-and-denise-lewis-join-the-hall-of-fame/ | title = Bert Williams and Denise Lewis join the hall of fame | newspaper = Express & Star | date = 27 September 2010 | access-date = 9 November 2015 | archive-date=18 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118224049/http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/09/27/bert-williams-and-denise-lewis-join-the-hall-of-fame/ | url-status=live }}</ref> followed by the [[England Athletics Hall of Fame]] in 2011.<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.englandathletics.org/page.aspx?sitesectionid=1637&sectionTitle=2011+inductees | title = 2011 Inductee videos | publisher = England Athletics | access-date = 9 November 2015 | archive-date = 19 November 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151119040206/http://www.englandathletics.org/page.aspx?sitesectionid=1637&sectionTitle=2011%20inductees | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://birchfieldharriers.net/2011/10/england-athletics-hall-of-fame-honours-distinguished-harrier-denise-lewis/ | title = ENGLAND ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME HONOURS DISTINGUISHED HARRIER DENISE LEWIS | publisher =[[Birchfield Harriers]] | date = 28 October 2011 | access-date = 9 November 2015 | archive-date=19 November 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151119001654/http://birchfieldharriers.net/2011/10/england-athletics-hall-of-fame-honours-distinguished-harrier-denise-lewis/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

With [[Kelly Holmes|Dame Kelly Holmes]], [[Christine Ohuruogu]] and [[Paula Radcliffe]], Lewis enjoys acclamation as one of the "golden girls" of British athletics and, in 1998 and 2000, was runner-up in the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]. In 2003, Lewis was put forward as a candidate in the [[BBC]] Midlands great Midlander of all-time award but lost to the eventual winner, [[Reginald Mitchell]], the inventor of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]].

Lewis was voted "Sportswoman of the Year" three times by the [[Sports Journalists' Association]] (SJA), in 1997, 1998 and 2000, at that time a joint-record. She was also runner up in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/sja-sport-awards/past-winners-of-the-sja-sports-awards/ |title=Past winners of the SJA British Sports Awards |access-date=11 August 2012 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203103712/http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/sja-sport-awards/past-winners-of-the-sja-sports-awards/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She was selected as "[[BAWA Athlete of the Year|Female Athlete of the Year]]" by the [[British Athletics Writers' Association]] (BAWA) four times, in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/site/bawa/ | title=BAWA Award winners | publisher=[[Sports Journalists' Association|SJA]] | access-date=9 November 2015 | archive-date=21 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921052918/https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/site/bawa/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BAWA">{{cite web | url=https://bawaathletics.wordpress.com/awards/ | title=Awards | date=October 2015 | publisher=BAWA | access-date=17 November 2015 | archive-date=17 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117083015/https://bawaathletics.wordpress.com/awards/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Lewis won the ''[[Sunday Times]]'' "[[Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards|Sportswoman of the Year]]" a record three times, in 1994, 1998 and 2000.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/1044885.stm | title=Another accolade for Lewis | publisher=[[BBC]] | date=28 November 2000 | access-date=18 November 2015 | archive-date=8 September 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030908181620/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/1044885.stm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.worlddressagenews.com/news/charlotte-up-for-sportswoman-of-the-year/ | title=Charlotte up for Sportswoman of the Year | publisher=World Dressage News | date=1 November 2014 | access-date=18 November 2015 | archive-date=18 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118175737/http://www.worlddressagenews.com/news/charlotte-up-for-sportswoman-of-the-year/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

At the inaugural British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) in 2015, Lewis became the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/golden-girl-denise-lewis-winner-again | title=Golden Girl Denise Lewis Is A Winner Again | publisher=Voice Online | date=23 February 2015 | access-date=9 November 2015 | archive-date=22 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122220101/http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/golden-girl-denise-lewis-winner-again | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.connectsport.co.uk/diversity/bedsa-awards-celebrate-diversity-in-sport | title=BEDSA Awards celebrate diversity in sport | publisher=Connect Sport | date=1 March 2015 | access-date=9 November 2015 | archive-date=13 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113135614/http://www.connectsport.co.uk/diversity/bedsa-awards-celebrate-diversity-in-sport | url-status=live }}</ref> She was rated as the Most Inspirational Sportswoman of 1998 and 2000 by ''[[Women's Health (magazine)|Women's Health]]''.<ref>{{ cite web | url =  https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/fitness/g704058/most-inspiring-sports-women-of-the-past-20-years-swoty-awards/ | title = The Most Inspiring Sports Women Of The Past 20 Years | magazine = [[Women's Health (magazine)|Women's Health]] | date = 9 March 2016 | access-date = 5 August 2024 }}</ref>

Her [[British records in athletics#Women's field records|British and Commonwealth record]] of 6831 points was set on 30 July 2000 in [[Talence]], France.<ref name=UKathletics/> {{As of|2013}}, she ranked 15th in the [[Heptathlon]] all-time list.

In 2002, Lewis's Olympic victory was ranked 90th in [[Channel 4]]'s [[100 Greatest Sporting Moments]].

In 2010, Lewis was made a Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jaguar Academy of Sport |title=Homepage |url=http://www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228040650/http://www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk/ |archive-date=28 February 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In addition to her sports achievements, Lewis was included in the [[Powerlist 2019|2019]] edition of the [[Powerlist]], ranking the 100 most influential Black Britons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hicks |first1=Amber |title=List of 100 most influential black people includes Meghan Markle for first time |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/powerlist-2019-100-most-influential-13459460 |website=mirror |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=31 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531090518/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/powerlist-2019-100-most-influential-13459460 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Television career==
[[File:Denise Lewis in 2011 (cropped).jpg|200px|thumb|Lewis at National Hunt racing awards 2011]]
===Punditry and presenting===
Since 2009, Lewis has acted as a [[Pundit (expert)|pundit]] for [[BBC Sport]]'s athletics coverage and she has covered major live events including the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 World Athletics Championships]], [[2010 Commonwealth Games]], [[2012 Summer Olympics]], [[2014 Commonwealth Games]], [[2016 Summer Olympics]], [[2018 Commonwealth Games]], [[2020 Summer Olympics]], [[2022 Commonwealth Games]] and [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/09_september/17/commonwealth.shtml |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-05-15 |title=London 2012 Olympics: BBC presenters and commentary teams |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/18070768 |access-date=2025-05-03 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Glasgow 2014 Television Coverage on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/cwg/television |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio 2016 on the BBC - TV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/rio/tv |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/commonwealth-games-2018#:~:text=The%20TV%20line-up%20includes,Paula%20Radcliffe%20and%20Katharine%20Merry. |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tokyo 2020 on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/tokyo-2020/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/birmingham-2022-commonwealth-games-on-the-bbc#:~:text=Daily%20coverage%20will%20begin%20on,for%20all%20the%20athletics%20events. |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fall in love with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/olympic-games-paris-2024-on-the-bbc |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> The Paris 2024 Games were Lewis' final appearance as a pundit for the BBC as she left to take up the position of President of [[UK Athletics]].<ref name=":0" />

On 2 February 2015, Lewis guest hosted an episode of ''[[The One Show]]'' with [[Matt Baker (presenter)|Matt Baker]].

Lewis has also been a presenter on various non-sports television programmes. In July 2015, she co-hosted ''Right on the Money'', a daytime series on [[BBC One]], alongside [[Dominic Littlewood]]. The programme returned for a second series in July 2016. From 22 July 2011, Lewis hosted children's reality television show ''[[Camp Orange (UK & Ireland)|Camp Orange]]''. She is a presenter of the BBC's ''[[Secret Britain]]'' (series 3 onwards) which introduced lesser-known aspects of the British countryside.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0766vl0|title=BBC One - Secret Britain, Series 3|access-date=24 April 2016|archive-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131150123/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0766vl0|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Strictly Come Dancing''===
{{Unreferencedsect|date=June 2025}}
In 2004, Lewis took part in the [[BBC]] dancing competition, ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]''. She was partnered with professional dancer [[Ian Waite]] and, in the first few weeks scored the highest number of points from the judges. She eventually reached the final and was runner-up to actress [[Jill Halfpenny]]. After that, Lewis and the two other partners from the final danced at the [[Royal Variety Performance]].

Ten days after competing in the ''Strictly Come Dancing'' final, Lewis and Waite competed again in the ''Strictly Come Dancing Champion of Champions Special'', in which finalists from the first two series competed against each other. Lewis received the most points from the judges, but again was runner-up to Halfpenny. She then appeared on the 2016 [[Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Specials#2016|Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special]], partnered with [[Anton du Beke]].

===TV guest appearances===
* ''[[Let's Dance for Comic Relief]]'' (2009) – Contestant
* ''[[All Star Family Fortunes]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Pointless]]'' with her father-in-law, Tom O'Connor (2011)
* ''[[The Cube (British game show)|The Cube]]'' on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] (2012)
* ''[[Your Face Sounds Familiar (British TV series)|Your Face Sounds Familiar]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Big Star's Little Star]]'' with her son Ryan (2014)
* ''[[Give a Pet a Home]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Sport Relief]]'' in a sketch with Idris Elba playing Luther (2016)
* ''[[The Chase (British game show)|The Chase: Celebrity Special]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Hairy Bikers]] Home for Christmas'' (2017)
* ''All Star Musicals'' (2017) – Contestant
* ''[[Would I Lie to You? (British game show)|Would I Lie to You?]]'' (2018)
* ''[[The Masked Dancer (British TV series) series 2|The Masked Dancer]]'' (2022) – Contestant / "Sea Slug"

==Personal life==
Born on 27 August 1972 in West Bromwich,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/2016-07-06/midlands-olympic-legends-denise-lewis/|title=Midlands' Olympic legends: Denise Lewis|publisher=itv.com|date=6 July 2016|access-date=14 August 2016|archive-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115113927/https://www.itv.com/news/central/2016-07-06/midlands-olympic-legends-denise-lewis/|url-status=live}}</ref> to Jamaican-born parents, Lewis grew up in [[Pendeford]], [[Wolverhampton]], and was educated at the Regis School in [[Tettenhall]], which later became the King's School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kingswolverhampton.co.uk/letterfromtheprincipal |title=Letter from the Principal |publisher=Kings Wolverhampton |date=August 2022 |access-date=6 August 2022 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806191954/https://www.kingswolverhampton.co.uk/letterfromtheprincipal |url-status=live}}</ref> A £1 million sports hall was later built there and named in her honour.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/09/09/golden-girl-denise-wins-honorary-degree/ |title=Golden girl Denise wins honorary degree |publisher=expressandstar.com |date=9 September 2014 |access-date=6 August 2022 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806191023/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/09/09/golden-girl-denise-wins-honorary-degree/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

From the late 1990s until 2005, Lewis was in a relationship with [[Belgium|Belgian]] sprinter [[Patrick Stevens]], and they had a daughter. In 2006, Lewis married Steve Finan O'Connor, former manager of the UK pop group [[All Saints (group)|All Saints]], former manager of [[Liam Payne]], and son of comedian [[Tom O'Connor (comedian)|Tom O'Connor]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Traynor |first1=Luke |title=Olympian Denise Lewis pays tribute to father-in-law Tom O'Connor |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/cherished-liverpool-comedian-tom-oconnor-21085901 |access-date=22 July 2021 |work=[[Liverpool Echo]] |date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722004305/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/cherished-liverpool-comedian-tom-oconnor-21085901 |url-status=live }}</ref> They have three sons.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

==See also==
*[[List of Olympic medalists in athletics (women)]]
*[[List of World Athletics Championships medalists (women)]]
*[[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics (women)]]
*[[List of European Athletics Championships medalists (women)]]
*[[List of 1996 Summer Olympics medal winners]]
*[[List of 2000 Summer Olympics medal winners]]
*[[List of high jump national champions (women)]]
*[[List of people from Wolverhampton]]
*[[British African-Caribbean people]]
*[[Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World Athletics Championships]]
*[[List of celebrities appearing on Daily Cooks Challenge]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Denise Lewis}}
*{{World Athletics}}
*[http://www.birchfieldharriers.net Homepage of Birchfield Harriers]. Accessed 30 December 2022.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050712075112/http://www.ukathletics.net/vsite/vcontent/page/custom/0,8510,4854-132167-133475-21100-77241-custom-item,00.html Biography], ukathletics.net. Accessed 30 December 2022.
*[http://www.uka.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/denise-lewis/ UKA Hall of Fame Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620185602/http://www.uka.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/denise-lewis/ |date=20 June 2012 }}, uka.org.uk. Accessed 30 December 2022.

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before=[[Sabine Braun]]|title=[[Heptathlon#Women.27s seasons best .28outdoor.29|Women's Heptathlon Best Year Performance]]|years=1998|after=[[Eunice Barber]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Heptathlon}}
{{Footer European Champions Heptathlon Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Heptathlon Women}}{{Footer WBYP Heptathlon}}{{Footer Olympic Champions Great Britain Women}}
{{British Indoor Athletics Championships women's shot put champions}}
{{British Female Superstars Champions}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Denise}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Wolverhampton]]
[[Category:English heptathletes]]
[[Category:British heptathletes]]
[[Category:English Olympic competitors]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Birchfield Harriers]]
[[Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Black British sportswomen]]
[[Category:English people of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from West Bromwich]]
[[Category:Sportspeople awarded damehoods]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportswomen]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]