Shelley Newman


Shelley Jean Newman, now Parr and, is a female retired English discus thrower. She was born in Carshalton, London and competed for Great Britain at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Athletics career

Her personal best throw is 61.22 metres, achieved in June 2003 in Loughborough. This was the English record for many years and at the time and placed her fourth on the British outdoor all-time list, behind Meg Ritchie, Venissa Head and Philippa Roles. She represented England in the discus event, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Four years later she won a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Personal life

Shelley has a degree in physiology, which she gained at the University of Birmingham in 1994. She earned her doctorate in the subject in 1999. She currently works as the Director of Undergraduate Programmes in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. Previously she held posts at the University of Birmingham and, until 2007, Cardiff University.

International competitions