BIRD Elizabeth

Great Britain

Athletics

Date of Birth: 4 Oct 1994

Age: 26

Gender: Female

Place of birth: MANILA

Birth Country:

Philippines

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Athletics	Women's 3000m Steeplechase	9

Schedule

Change

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Olympic Stadium - Track	Women's 3000m Steeplechase Round 1 - Heat 3	Finished
	Olympic Stadium - Track	Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

World Athletics Championships

Year	Location	3000m SC
2019	Doha, QAT	Heats (9:30.13)

Diamond League overview - Three best ranks per season and event since 2017

Year	3000m SC
2021	1 x 7th
2019	1 x 13th

Diamond League - Ten best performances since 2020

Rank	Year	Event	Location	Result
7	2021	3000m Steeplechase	Monaco, MON	9:22.80
13	2019	3000m Steeplechase	Birmingham, GBR	9:50.97

World Athletics Continental Tour - Ten best performances since 2020

Rank	Year	Event	Competition	Location	Result
7	2021	3000m Steeplechase	World Athletics Continental Tour	Walnut, CA, USA	9:36.36

Legend
SF - Semifinal, QF - Quarterfinal, 1R - 1st Round, Qual. - Qualification, QR - Qualification Round, DNF - Did Not Finish, DNS - Did Not Start, DQ - Disqualified, NM - No Mark, [Relay athlete without time] - Did not run in final

Nickname:

Lizzie (Twitter profile, 11 Jun 2021)

Occupation:

Athlete

Education:

International Studies, Public Affairs - Princeton University, United States of America

Languages spoken:

English, French

Club name:

Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers [London, GBR]

Coach:

Pat McCurry [personal]

Injuries:

In 2018 injuries meant she missed much of the outdoor season. (athleticsweekly.com, 21 Dec 2019)

In 2016 and 2017 she suffered from illness and stress fractures that affected her running, including a stress fracture in her femur. (athleticsweekly.com, 21 Dec 2019; hertsad.co.uk, 18 Sep 2019)

Start:

She began running in St Albans, England, and her first club was Herts Phoenix Athletic Club. (hertsad.co.uk, 18 Sep 2019)

Reason:

She took up steeplechase at university in the United States of America. "I was sort of reluctant to try it at first. There is this attitude in the UK that steeplechase is for 1500m runners who aren't quite good enough to be top at 1500m. I was really put off the event at a young age, but then I went to Princeton [University] and I ran the cross-country season. I had a go, tried some drills, and did a race which went well. I really liked the water jump. That's definitely my favourite part of the event." (athleticsweekly.com, 21 Dec 2019)

Ambition:

To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and to pursue a career in immigration law. (athleticsweekly.com, 21 Dec 2019)

General Interest

General
OVERCOMING DOUBTS
After completing her master's degree in December 2018, she considered quitting the sport due to injuries, deciding that she would give her athletics career one last chance in 2019. "I didn't want to have another injury that would prevent me from just going out for a hike or an easy run. My coach [Pat McCurry] said he could get me running 9:30 [in the 3000m steeplechase], so I thought I would give it one last go. When I thought, 'I don't care anymore', I started having fun and running well so didn't want to stop." In 2019 she had intended to continue working alongside her training, but ultimately quit her job as an immigration assistant. "I came home [to the United Kingdom] in June [2019] intending to come for a week. I told my office I was coming back in 10 days and was absolutely intending to. Then I raced at the Watford Open [in England] four days after I got back and it was atrocious. I think that was the push I needed to realise that I couldn't really work and train for the summer." (athleticsweekly.com, 21 Dec 2019; LinkedIn profile, 01 Sep 2020)

FURTHER EDUCATION
After completing her bachelor's degree in public and international affairs in 2017, she studied for a master's degree in international studies at the University of San Francisco in the United States of America between 2017 and 2018. She deferred a place at law school in Boulder, CO, United States of America, in order to focus on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (athleticsweekly.com, 21 Dec 2019; LinkedIn profile, 01 Sep 2020)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has been involved in advocacy and support for human rights organisation Detention Action. She has previously worked as a law clerk, a tutor and a research assistant, and has undertaken several law internships. (Twitter profile, 11 Jun 2021; LinkedIn profile, 01 Sep 2020)

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

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