Fiona May
Fiona May is a retired long jumper who competed internationally for Great Britain before switching allegiance to Italy, where she achieved her greatest success, including two Olympic silver medals and two world outdoor championship titles.[1][2] Born on 12 December 1969 in Slough, England, May began her career representing her birth country, winning gold in the long jump at the 1988 World Junior Championships and placing sixth at the 1988 Seoul Olympics at the age of 18.[3][2] She also competed for Great Britain at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.[3] In 1994, following her marriage to Italian pole vaulter Gianni Lapichino, May relocated to Florence and became a naturalized Italian citizen, allowing her to represent Italy from that year onward.[2][4] Under the Italian flag, she established herself as one of the world's elite jumpers, securing silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics, gold medals at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg and the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, a silver at the 1998 World Championships in Budapest, and a world indoor title in 1997.[1][2] Her personal best of 7.11 meters, achieved in 1998, remains the Italian national record and earned her a silver medal at that year's European Championships.[1][4] May also competed in the triple jump, recording a career best of 14.65 meters in 1998, which ranked her fifth globally that year.[4] Standing 181 cm tall and weighing 60 kg during her career, she retired in 2006 after over a decade of international competition for Italy.[3][2] Beyond athletics, May has pursued a multifaceted post-career path, including acting in Italian television and film—where she won a Globo d'Oro award for best actress in the 2006 short film Guinea Pig—and participating in the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars, which she won in 2007.[2] In recent years as of 2024, she has served as an ambassador for the European Athletics Championships in Rome and spoken publicly against rising racism in Italy. She has served as a broadcaster for Sky Sports Italia, including at the 2012 London Olympics, and held roles in sports administration, such as membership in the Italian Olympic Committee from 2013 to 2017, head of the Italian Football Federation's integration commission since 2014, and a trustee on the UEFA Foundation for Children board since 2017.[2][4][5][6]Early Life and Background
Childhood and Upbringing
Fiona May was born on 12 December 1969 in Slough, England, to parents of Jamaican heritage who had immigrated to the United Kingdom.[7][8][9] She was raised in Derby, an industrial city in the East Midlands region of England, where her family settled after her birth. Her parents were Jamaican immigrants, providing her with a multicultural background while she was immersed in British society from infancy. She has a younger sister, Deborah May, who also competed in long jump.[8][9][10] At the age of 12, May was introduced to athletics by her physical education teacher and coach, sparking her passion for the sport. She joined the Derby and County Athletics Club, where she quickly showed promise in field events, particularly jumping. By age 13 in 1983, she had already set a UK best mark for her age group in the long jump, measuring 5.91 meters, highlighting her natural talent.[7][8][11] As a teenager in the mid-1980s, May participated in her first amateur competitions through local and national youth events, building experience in long jump and related disciplines. These early outings, including appearances at under-20 championships by 1986, laid the groundwork for her progression toward elite-level athletics while still in her formative years.[8][12]Education
Fiona May attended South East Derbyshire College in the late 1980s, where she pursued A-level studies in communications and economics while beginning to balance her academic commitments with local athletics training.[13] In 1988, she enrolled at Leeds Trinity & All Saints College (now Leeds Trinity University), affiliated with the University of Leeds, to study economics, business management, and administration, a program that allowed her to integrate her passion for athletics into her university experience.[14] Her time there provided access to coaching and facilities that contributed to refining her long jump technique amid her emerging athletic pursuits.[14] May graduated in the early 1990s.[2]Athletic Career
Representation for Great Britain
Fiona May began her international athletic career representing Great Britain at the age of 16, making her debut at the 1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Athens, where she placed eighth in the long jump with a distance of 6.11 meters.[15] The following year, she achieved her first major success by winning the gold medal at the 1987 European Junior Championships in Birmingham with a leap of 6.64 meters (wind-assisted).[16] May continued her junior success in 1988, securing the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Sudbury, Canada, becoming the only British winner at the event.[2] Transitioning to the senior level, May competed for Great Britain at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, reaching the final and finishing sixth overall with 6.62 meters.[16] She trained under a British coach from a young age, and was selected for key senior events including the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, where she earned a bronze medal in the long jump.[17] That same year, May placed seventh at the European Championships in Split with a jump of 6.77 meters.[18] Her progression continued in 1991 with a silver medal at the Summer Universiade in Sheffield.[19] In the early 1990s, May advanced further on the international stage, qualifying for the final rounds at major championships while facing challenges such as limited financial support and intense competition within British athletics.[20] At the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, she recorded 6.54 meters in the qualifying round, placing 10th overall and narrowly missing the final.[21] She also competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, representing Great Britain in the long jump qualifying rounds.[3] These efforts culminated in her peak performance during the British phase of her career, achieving a personal best of 6.86 meters at the high-altitude Sestriere meeting in 1993.[22] Despite these accomplishments, the lack of adequate funding and professional infrastructure in British athletics contributed to her decision to seek opportunities elsewhere by the end of 1993.Switch to Italy and Peak Achievements
Fiona May became eligible to represent Italy following her marriage to Italian pole vaulter Gianni Iapichino in 1994, officially acquiring Italian citizenship and switching her international allegiance in 1994. This transition allowed her to compete under the Italian flag starting that year, marking a pivotal shift after years of modest results for Great Britain. Upon relocating to Florence, May integrated seamlessly into the Italian athletics system, gaining access to advanced training resources, including the national camp in Formia and a competitive salary from the federation that provided financial stability absent in her prior setup. These enhancements enabled focused technical refinement, transforming her from a promising talent into a world-class contender. Under Iapichino's coaching and with Italy's superior support, May overhauled her long jump technique, emphasizing explosive speed in the run-up and optimized board positioning for greater horizontal velocity. This evolution propelled her personal bests forward: she achieved 6.98 m at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg, where she claimed gold in her debut major for Italy, outdistancing Niurka Montalvo by 12 cm amid variable winds. She also earned silver at the 1998 World Championships in Budapest. Her progress peaked at 7.11 m in 1998 during the European Championships in Budapest, securing silver behind Heike Drechsler's 7.16 m and establishing a national record that stands today. These advancements not only extended her jumping range but also built resilience against formidable rivals like Drechsler, with whom she frequently battled for supremacy. May's peak years under Italian representation were defined by breakthrough performances at the Olympics and World Championships. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, intensive pre-event preparation honed her takeoff mechanics, yielding a silver medal with 7.02 m—her lifetime best at the time—after a dramatic final where Nigeria's Chioma Ajunwa edged her with 7.12 m. The 2000 Sydney Olympics brought another silver, as May jumped 6.92 m in a rain-affected competition, finishing runner-up to Drechsler once more at 6.99 m and underscoring their intense rivalry that spanned multiple majors. She bookended this Olympic success with World Championship golds, dominating Gothenburg in 1995 to launch Italy's long jump era and reclaiming the title in 2001 Edmonton with 7.02 m, narrowly defeating Russia's Tatyana Kotova by 1 cm in a nerve-testing finale. Through these triumphs, May significantly elevated Italian long jump, setting benchmarks and fostering a legacy of excellence in the discipline.Retirement and Legacy in Athletics
Fiona May's competitive career concluded at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, where she participated in the women's long jump qualification round, achieving a best distance of 6.51 m but failing to advance to the final.[23] Following this event, she announced her retirement from professional athletics in 2006 at the age of 36, transitioning to new pursuits while reflecting on a career marked by two Olympic silver medals and two world titles.[24] Her decision came after nearly two decades at the elite level, during which persistent physical demands and a desire to prioritize family life influenced her choice to step away.[2] In the years immediately following her retirement, May contributed to athletics development in Italy by offering guidance and support to emerging talents, drawing on her extensive experience to mentor young jumpers through informal sessions and family-oriented involvement in the sport. Her influence extended beyond competition, as she became an ambassador for events like the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome, promoting the sport and inspiring the next generation.[5] May's legacy endures as a pioneer for dual-nationality athletes, having switched allegiance from Great Britain to Italy in 1994 and achieving unprecedented success under the Italian banner, which helped normalize such transitions in international athletics.[20] She significantly raised the profile and performance standards of women's long jump in Italy, with her personal best of 7.11 m from the 1998 European Championships remaining the national record.[8] This mark, combined with her two world championships and Olympic silvers, solidified her status as one of the event's all-time greats. In recognition of her contributions, May was inducted into the FIDAL Hall of Fame by the Italian Athletics Federation.[25] Further affirming her lasting impact, in December 2024, she donated her signed Italian tracksuit from the 2005 World Championships to the Museum of World Athletics, preserving a piece of her farewell performance for future generations.[26]Competitive Achievements
Olympic and World Championship Results
Fiona May competed in the long jump at four Olympic Games, earning two silver medals while representing Italy after switching from Great Britain.[27]| Year | Games | Placement | Distance | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Barcelona | Qualified (NM in final) | 6.65 m (qual.) | Great Britain |
| 1996 | Atlanta | Silver | 7.02 m | Italy |
| 2000 | Sydney | Silver | 6.92 m | Italy |
| 2004 | Athens | 27th (qual.) | 6.38 m | Italy |
| Year | Location | Placement | Distance | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Gothenburg | Gold | 6.98 m (wind-aided) | Italy |
| 2001 | Edmonton | Gold | 7.02 m | Italy |
| 2005 | Helsinki | 6th | 6.51 m | Italy |
European and National Honors
Fiona May demonstrated consistent excellence at the European Championships level, beginning with a silver medal in the long jump at the 1994 event in Helsinki, where she jumped 6.69 m to secure second place behind Heike Drechsler.[36] She improved to silver four years later at the 1998 Championships in Budapest, achieving her personal best and Italian national record of 7.11 m, narrowly behind Drechsler's winning mark of 7.16 m.[37] These continental successes, including her strong performances in preparation meets, bolstered her confidence leading into Olympic competitions. At the European Indoor Championships, May claimed gold in 1998 in Valencia with a leap of 6.71 m, establishing a then-Italian indoor record and outdistancing competitors like Tatyana Ter-Mesrobyan. She added a silver medal in 2000 in Ghent, finishing second with 6.92 m behind Helíada Franklin.[19] Earlier indoor efforts included multiple competitive showings, contributing to her reputation as a dominant force in the discipline during the late 1990s and early 2000s. She also won gold at the 1997 World Indoor Championships in Paris with 6.92 m.[1] Representing Great Britain early in her career, May earned a bronze medal in the long jump at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, jumping 6.00 m for third place.[19] This achievement highlighted her emerging talent on the international stage prior to her switch to Italy. On the national front, May secured several titles and medals while competing for Great Britain. She won gold at the 1989 UK Championships in Jarrow with 6.98 m and silver at the 1988 AAA Championships in Birmingham with 6.79 m.[22] After naturalizing as Italian in 1994, she dominated domestic competitions, capturing gold at the Italian Indoor Championships that year in Genoa with 6.68 m and going on to win multiple outdoor national titles, including setting records that underscored her leadership in Italian athletics through the late 1990s.[22]| Competition | Year | Location | Medal | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Championships | 1994 | Helsinki | Silver | 6.69 m |
| European Championships | 1998 | Budapest | Silver | 7.11 m (PB, NR) |
| European Indoor Championships | 1998 | Valencia | Gold | 6.71 m (NR indoor) |
| European Indoor Championships | 2000 | Ghent | Silver | 6.92 m |
| World Indoor Championships | 1997 | Paris | Gold | 6.92 m |
| Commonwealth Games | 1990 | Auckland | Bronze | 6.00 m |
| UK Championships | 1989 | Jarrow | Gold | 6.98 m |
| AAA Championships | 1988 | Birmingham | Silver | 6.79 m |
| Italian Indoor Championships | 1994 | Genoa | Gold | 6.68 m |