For many visitors to Lee Valley VeloPark, Joanne Ryan is a friendly face helping guests make the most of their day. But beyond her role as a concierge, Joanne is quietly achieving extraordinary success on the international athletics stage.
Training regularly at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Joanne has just returned from the European Masters Athletics Championships Torun Poland with a gold medal and a British record to her name.
Representing the Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletics team, she competed in the 200m and 400m events, reaching the semi finals in both. In the 400m, Joanne achieved a new indoor personal best, while narrowly missing out on the 200m final by just one place.
But it was in the relay where she truly shone. Teaming up with Katy Lord, Krystle Balogun, and Stacey Dowine, the quartet stormed to victory in the 4x200m relay. Their time of 1:43.44 not only secured gold but also set a new British record.
“It was incredible to be part of such a strong team,” she said. “Moments like that make all the hard work worthwhile.”
Her journey to the podium has not been straightforward. Just a year ago, Ryan faced injury setbacks that left her questioning whether she would return to competitive athletics at all. Now, she credits those challenges with shaping her resilience.
“As athletes, we all face setbacks,” she reflected. “But I truly believe mine made me stronger and even more determined.”
Ryan’s story is one of dedication, perseverance, and quiet excellence, balancing a customer facing role with the demands of elite level training.
