NEWS FROM WORLD: Lisa Dobriskey top player race

Dobriskey's family history has been traced back to 1780 when her ancestors moved to the United Kingdom from Poland. She was born in Ashford, Kent and spent her childhood in New Romney before attending Loughborough University. Her younger sister Sarah competed for England as a hammer thrower, and younger brothers David and Steven reached county level at middle distance running, javelin and discus. Her father is a soil consultant, presently working for construction company Sir Robert McAlpine at the site of the 2012 London Olympics.[1]

Dobriskey is married to former 800 m runner Ricky Soos.[2]
Career

After winning her school's 800 m at aged 11, her teachers suggested that she join the local athletic club. Dobriskey won Amateur Athletic Association titles at Under 15/17/20 and 23. She was the fastest British under-17 girl at 800 metres (2:08.67) and fourth fastest at 1500 m (4:31.7) in 1999, and the third fastest at 1500 m (4:28.10) in 2000. She won the English Schools 800 m title for Juniors in 1998 and for Intermediates in 1999 and made her junior international debut indoors against Germany and France at 1500 m in 2000. In the English Schools cross country running she was 4th in the Junior girls in 1998 and 3rd in the Intermediates in 1999. She was 2nd in the Inter-counties U15 cc in 1999.

She won the gold medal in the women's 1500 m event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

She finished 4th in the final of the 1500 m in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, resulting in her ranking fourth in the world for the 1500 m.[3][4] After this, she won the Fifth Avenue Mile competition with the second fastest ever time recorded by a female athlete at the race.[5]

After suffering a stress fracture in her back early in the 2009 season, she finished third in the 1500 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. Dobriskey was upgraded to silver after winner Natalia Rodriguez of Spain was disqualified for shoving Ethiopian Gelete Burika, who fell on the last lap.[6][7]
Statistics

Lisa Dobriskey's personal best in the 1500 m ranks her second on the British all-time list, behind Kelly Holmes.[8]
[edit] Personal bests
Event Time Year Venue
400 m 56.00 2002 Eton
800 m 2:02.90 2004 Zurich
1500 m 3:59.50 2009 Zurich
3000 m 8:54.12 2007 Loughborough