Gemma Steel

Gemma Steel (born 12 November 1985) is a British long-distance runner who competes in road running and cross country running competitions. She was the 2011 bronze medallist at the European Cross Country Championships. She has represented Great Britain internationally in cross country, road and track events. She has won at three of the Great Run series events: the Great Ireland Run, Great Birmingham Run and Great Yorkshire Run. She has also won the Bristol Half Marathon and placed seventh at the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

Early career

A member of Charnwood Athletic Club in Loughborough, she is coached by John Nuttall. She began competing in local level road races in 2005, running for Hermitage Harriers of Whitwick over distances ranging from five miles (8 km) to the half marathon (21.1 km). She improved her times year-upon-year from 2006 to 2009; she brought her 10k best from over 40 minutes to 34:34 minutes and took her best for the ten-mile race from 67:05 minutes down to 58:03 minutes. She began to establish herself as a national level runner in 2009, taking the Leicestershire cross country title, placing second at the Sheffield Half Marathon and coming third at the Brooks Brighton 10K.