JCCM Jane Cowmeadow Communications and Management

Jo Pavey is one of Britain’s most successful and gutsy distance runners – her early career as a senior was interrupted by injury, but her strength of character and gutsy approach to her running has kept her amongst the world’s best over 5000m and 10,000m for the past eight years.

Jo had an impressive junior career and set the British under 15 1500m record in 1988. She made her Great Britain junior international debut at the age of just 15 in Athens. She won the 800m & 1500m at the AAA National Championships in both 1988 and 1990 and set a British record over 1500m when winning the English Schools 1500m title in 1988. After foot surgery in late 1990 Jo missed the seasons 1991 to 1996 with injury. During each of these years Jo tried to resume training and never gave up. She was able to train a little and compete occasionally in low key races but her injuries prevented her from running at her full potential.

During this period she completed a degree in Physiotherapy (1995) and whilst working as a physiotherapist for eighteen months she tackled her injuries with the support of her husband Gavin who treated her daily.

Jo made her senior debut at the 1997 World Championships in Athens but missed the next two years due to injury. Nonetheless she ran 15:18.51 on her 5000m debut in 2000 and followed up with a second place at the AAA Championship to earn selection for the Sydney Olympics.

Jo Pavey Photo Gallery

With Just six months of training under her belt she made the Olympic final in Sydney. She again ran well in 2001, taking her first Senior AAA title in the 5000m.
In 2002 she finished fifth in both Commonwealth Games and European Championships despite a virus. Back to health by the end of the season, she recorded 3000m and 5000m personal bests on the Grand Prix circuit. Her 1500m personal best was reduced to 4:02.03 in Rome and further good runs at that distance persuaded her to run that event at the 2003 World Championships rather than the 5000m. Her decision paid off as she finished 10th in Paris.

In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games she was fifth over 5000m, and went on to win silver at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games over 5000m, and was 4th at the 2007 Osaka World Championships over 10,000m.

At the Beijing Olympics Jo placed 12th in a PB of 31.12.30.


Career Hightlights

Championship Record
Olympic Games
2008 10,000 12th
2004 5000m 5th
2000 5000m 12th

World Championships
2007 10000m 4th, 5000m 9th,
2005 5000m 15th
2003 1500m 10th
2001 5000m 11th

European Championships
2006 5000m 4th
2002 5000m 5th

Commonwealth Games
2006 5000m Silver
2002 5000m 5th

World Cup
2002 5000m Bronze

European Cup
2007 5000m Gold
2006 3000m Gold
2003 5000m Silver
2002 5000m Silver

World Cross Country
2003 41st

European Cross Country
2004 Bronze

World Indoors
2004 3000m 5th

Personal Bests
800m 2:09.68 (1990), 1500m 4:01.79 (2003), 1M 4:30.77 (1997), 3000m 8:31.27 (2002), 5000m 14:39.76 (2002) Indoors: 3000m 8:31.50 (2004), 10,000m 31.12.30 (2008)