Denise Lewis Biography

Denise Lewis is a retired British track and field athlete. Currently, she is a sports presenterer. She specialized in the heptathlon who has won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was twice Commonwealth Games champion, was the 1998 European Champion and won World Championships silver medals in 1997 and 1999. She is the first European to win the Olympic heptathlon. Her personal best score for the heptathlon is 6,831 points, set at the Décastar meeting in 2000. After her retirement, she has undertaken various television and media work. Now, she is a regular athletics pundit for BBC Television, including during London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. Likewise, she also took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 partnering with Ian Waite. Again, they competed in the Strictly Come Dancing Champion of Champions Special. Also, she appeared on 2016 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, partnered with Anton du Beke. 

Denise Lewis hungover on Commonwealth Games live broadcast

Denise Lewis shocked her BBC colleagues when she admitted she was ‘hanging’ live on air during a Commonwealth Games broadcast. She is one of a number of well-known pundits for the broadcaster’s coverage of the much buzzed-about Birmingham event. As another day of live action from track and field kicked off on Thursday, she joined hosts Jason Mohammad and Holly Hamilton in the studio. Jason remarked: “I’m delighted to say Denise has joined us this morning on the Morning Show,” before asking Denise: “How are you?” He didn’t get the response he was expecting though when Denise swiftly replied: “I’m hanging!”

What is Denise Lewis Famous For?

• Being a sports presenter and former track and field athlete.
• Being a regular athletics pundit for BBC Television, including during London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.

What is Denise Lewis’s Ethnicity?

Denise Lewis was born on 27th August 1972 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England. As per her nationality, she is British and her ethnicity is British-Jamaican. She is the daughter of Joan Lewis (mother) and her father whose name is still to get disclosed yet. She celebrated her 49th birthday as of 2021. She grew up in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, and was educated at the Regis School in Tettenhall, later to become the King’s School. 

Denise Lewis Career Timeline

• During the first event of the first day of the 2000 Summer Olympics heptathlon on 23rd September, Lewis recorded 13.23 seconds for the 100 metres hurdles to be in second place behind the world champion, Eunice Barber, who had finished in 12.97 seconds.
• In the third event, the shot put, Lewis, recorded a distance of 15.55 m, placing her second, 30 points behind Natallia Sazanovich and 45 points ahead of former world champion Sabine Braun.
• In the final event of the day, the 200 meters, she recorded a time of 24.34 sec.
• The first event on the second day was the long jump and her best jump was 6.48 m. 
• In event six, the javelin, Lewis achieved a throw of 50.19 m.
• In the final event, the 800 meters, she 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. 
• At the 2004 Olympics, she was suffering from a number of injuries and withdrew from the competition after the long jump. Teammate and training partner Kelly Sotherton took bronze. 
• Since retiring from athletics, she has undertaken various television and media work.
• She became an established and highly respected commentator and pundit for BBC Sport. 
• Since 2009, she has acted as a pundit for BBC Sport’s athletics coverage and has covered major live events including the 2009 World Athletics Championships, 2010 Commonwealth Games, 2012 Summer Olympics, 2014 Commonwealth Games, and 2016 Summer Olympics.
• She guest hosted an episode of The One Show with Matt Baker on 2nd February 2015. 
• She co-hosted Right on the Money in July 2015. 
• From 22 July 2011, Lewis hosted the children’s reality television show Camp Orange.
• She is a presenter of the BBC’s Secret Britain (series 3 onwards).
• In 2004, Lewis took part in the BBC dancing competition, Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional dancer Ian Waite.
• They competed again in the Strictly Come Dancing Champion of Champions Special. 
• Then, she appeared on 2016 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, partnered with Anton du Beke.

Awards, Honors, and Achievements

• Lewis was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2001 New Year Honours, having already been appointed MBE in the 1999 New Year Honours.
• Was inducted into the Wolverhampton Sporting Hall of Fame in 2010
• Was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011
• Honored at the annual Wolverhampton Famous Sons & Daughters Awards ceremony
• Presented with an honorary degree from the University of Wolverhampton in 2014
• Was voted “Sportswoman of the Year” by the Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) in 1997, 1998, and 2000, a joint-record three times, while also being named as runner up in 1996
• Was selected as “Female Athlete of the Year” by the British Athletics Writers’ Association (BAWA) four times, in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000
• Won the Sunday Times “Sportswoman of the Year” a record three times, in 1994, 1998 and 2000
• Became the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) in 2015
• In 2010, Lewis was made a Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport.
• Was included in the 2019 edition of the Powerlist, ranking the 100 most influential Black Britons

Her titles includes:

National titles

AAA Championships 

• Long jump: 1996, 1998

AAA Indoor Championships 

• 60 m hurdles: 1997
• Long jump: 1994, 1995, 1998
• Shot put: 2004

Lewis was the top placed Briton at the 2004 AAA Indoor shot put behind Sweden’s Helena Engman

AAA Junior Championships 

• Heptathlon (under-17): 1988
• Long jump: 1989

British Schools International Match 

• Long jump: 1988

English Schools Championships 

• Long jump: 1986 (junior), 1987 (intermediate)

Circuit wins

• Décastar: 2000

Who is Denise Lewis Husband?

Denise Lewis is a married woman. Firstly, she married Patrick Stevens (Belgian sprinter) from the late 1990s until 2005. From that relationship, Lewis had a beautiful daughter namely, Lauryn Stevens. In October 2006, she married her second husband, Steve Finan O’Connor, former manager of the UK pop group All Saints. The couple has three children namely, Ryan O’Connor, Joe O’Connor, and Kane O’Connor. Today, the couple is enjoying their present life a lot. Her sexual orientaiton is straight. 

How Rich is Denise Lewis?

Denise Lewis is a former athletic and present TV personality who has made a huge amount of money throughout her career. As of 2022, the ent worth of Denise is estimated to be more than $5 Million. At present, her main source of wealth comes from the entertainment industry. Her annual salary is between $300K-$500K. She is living a lavish lifestyle from her earnings. 

What is Denise Lewis Height?

Denise Lewis is a beautiful woman with an athletic body type. She has a height of 5 feet 9 inches. Her well-maintained bodyweight is 64 Kg. Her hair color is black and her eye color is black. She has got a healthy body at present.