Perri Shakes-Drayton
World Indoor Champion; European Indoor Champion
- Champion Sprinter and Hurdler – Double European Indoor gold medallist and World Indoor Champion, with six European and three World Championship medals.
- Remarkable Comeback Story – Overcame a career-threatening knee injury to return to Team GB and win World silver in London 2017.
- Fitness Leader and Media Personality – Creator of ‘Train with PSD’ and rising TV star, inspiring others through resilience and healthy living.
Full Profile
Meet Perri Shakes-Drayton
Double European indoor Champion, World Indoor Champion and 4 years consistently British Champion, Perri was on the cusp of becoming the next superstar of GB athletics when tragedy struck. On the end of an unfortunate career-threatening injury sustained in the 2013 world championship finals, Perri went into the final as the 2nd fastest 400m hurdler in the world but on the first hurdle landed awkwardly rupturing all of the ligaments and cartilage in her knee. Numerous operations later including one after having to flee from a potential mugging and having to learn how to walk again; 4 years on and Perri achieved what many said was impossible; a return to elite-level sport. Not only did she make it back to compete for Great Britain, but she also claimed a silver medal as part of the 4x400m relay team in front of her home fans at the London 2017 World Championships.
An enforced absence from the sport gave Perri the chance to engage with her passion for a healthy lifestyle and started her ‘train with PSD’ movement which sees Perri lead workout sessions around some of London’s most spectacular venues – up on the Shard, a boat on the Thames and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Having announced her retirement in 2019, Perri drew a close to her athletics career which saw her win 3 World Championships medals (one gold) and 6 European medals (3 gold) and she and her husband, fellow athlete Mike Edwards, are delighted to have welcomed their firstborn, Matthew to the family late in 2020.
A star of ITV hit primetime show Dancing On Ice, Celebrity Coach Trip and now MTV Celebrity Bumps, Perri is beginning to embark on a media career where she wants to use her hugely inspiring story about never giving up and overcoming adversity to connect with and inspire others.