Amy Hunt

Amy Hunt

Author: BBC Radio 4 September 18, 2026 Duration: 15:04

Amy Hunt, 24, was born and grew up in Newark, Nottinghamshire. In the classroom, on the sports field, playing cello or tap dancing, she excelled at whatever she did.

She wasn't always a quick runner though. Her teacher, Phil Shepherd, recalls that when she was nine or ten 'she had incredibly long legs and her body hadn't grown into it.'

But it didn't take long. Aged 12, she joined Grantham Athletic Club, and at first she did middle distance running and triathlon. but after doing a rapid 200m her coaches suggested that she entered some championships.

At the age of 20, she was selected to represent Great Britain at the Under 20 European Championships in Mannheim, Germany. She won in 22.42 seconds, which was the fastest time ever by someone under 18.

But she was keen to prove that it's possible to be an 'academic badass and track goddess'. She attended Cambridge and obtained a BA in English. But sprinting called and she moved to Italy to work with coach, Marco Airale. Silver medals at the Olympics in Paris, and the World Championships in Tokyo followed by she became the first person in the history of the European Championships to win four gold medals in Birmingham this summer.

Becky Milligan looks at Amy's life and career.

Production team: Sound mix: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck Producers: Ben Carter and Bethan Ashmead Editor: Justine Lang

Archive: Good Morning Britain, ITV Novig advert


Each week, Profile from BBC Radio 4 takes a single name from the global conversation and builds a detailed portrait, moving far beyond the headlines. This isn't a simple biography or a news recap. Instead, through careful documentary storytelling and personal journal excerpts where available, the podcast constructs a nuanced examination of character and motive. You’ll hear from colleagues, critics, and sometimes the subjects themselves, piecing together what drives and defines the people shaping our world. The focus rests firmly on influence, whether in politics, the arts, science, or social movements, exploring how an individual's background and choices ripple through society and culture. Listening to this podcast feels like gaining a deeper, more textured understanding of the figures you think you know, revealing the contradictions and convictions behind the public image. It’s a thoughtful half-hour that challenges first impressions, asking what truly lies behind a name in the news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Profile
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