Caroline Baird

MBE Mbe may refer to: * Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo * Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria * Mbe language, a language of Nigeria * Mbe' language, language of Cameroon * ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language Molal ...

(née Innes, born 14 March 1974) is a former athlete who represented Great Britain at three

Paralympic Games The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the ''Games of the Paralympiad'', is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power and impaire ...

. During her career she was recognised as the greatest sprinter in her class, winning four Paralympic gold medals along with two World Championships titles.

Personal life

Baird was born in Cupar, Fife on 14 March 1974 and graduated from

Dundee University , mottoeng = "My soul doth magnify the Lord" , established = 1967 – gained independent university status by Royal Charter1897 – Constituent college of the University of St Andrews1881 – University College , t ...

. She has

cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Signs and symptoms vary among people and over time, but include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. There may be problems with sensa ...

and, after a highly successful career in athletics, retired from international sport to spend time with husband John and raise a family. The couple had two daughters, Christy and Connie. Baird was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours in 2000/2001.

Sporting career

Baird was a member of the Cupar and District Swimming Club and represented Scotland at the British Swimming Championships. She was encouraged to take up athletics and travelled to the 1989 World Games in Miami as a member of the Scottish Youth Team. Her potential was quickly recognised. The following year she won silver in both the 100m and 200m races at the World Championships in Assen. Competing under her maiden name of Innes she attended her first Paralympic Games in 1992. and won gold in the 100m. She then competed in the World Championships in Berlin in 1994, winning bronze in both the 100m and 200m. At the 1996 Games in Atlanta Baird retained her 100m gold. She achieved her greatest World Championship successes in Birmingham in 1998, winning gold in the 200m and 400m events. Her greatest Paralympic results came two years later at the Games in Sydney. She won silver in the 100m and triumphed in the longer sprint distances, achieving gold medals in both the 200m and 400m events. Baird's time of 1 minute 16.65 seconds was a new world record, beating the previous time by nearly six seconds. Baird is recognised as having been one of the leading sprinters in her class and was awarded the Young Disabled Sportswoman of the Year award in 1993. Though she is retired from international competition she still trains with coach John Oulton.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baird, Caroline 1974 births Living people Paralympic athletes of Great Britain Paralympic gold medalists for Great Britain Paralympic silver medalists for Great Britain Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Paralympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Paralympics Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Track and field athletes with cerebral palsy Alumni of the University of Dundee People from Cupar Medalists at the 1992 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 1996 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2000 Summer Paralympics British female sprinters Scottish female sprinters Scottish Paralympic competitors Members of the Order of the British Empire Paralympic medalists in athletics (track and field)