Did You Know – Yvonne Danson

DOB: 22-May-1959

Former coach: Gordon Surtess

PBs:

• 5000m 17:35.3 in 1997
• 10000m 36:27.39 in 1995 SEA Games
• Marathon 2:34:41 in 1995 SEA Games

Did you know that the Yvonne Danson, our current record holder in the women 5000m, 10000m and marathon was an accidental runner in the making?

Then in 1990, she joined one of SA affiliated club, MacRitchie Runners 25 (MR25) to make new friends and find new challenges after moving to Singapore from overseas. She even met her husband, Tan Choon Ghee there, a top Singapore marathoner there.

Yvonne who hails from a Liverpool, UK, has always been fascinated by the Eastern culture. As a student, she vacationed in far flung places such as Thailand.

It led to her applying for a teaching job in Brunei after graduating, and later on moving to Singapore.

With scientific training to back her mileage and a proponent in getting the right fuel and diet into one’s body, the diligent training propelled her to become top 20 female world marathoner in 1995.

Within just 5-years of being involved in the sport, Yvonne won the women marathon bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games (2:39:18, under UK flag) and ran her first Olympics in 1996 at Atlanta (2:39:18, 38/86 position).

Yvonne became a Singapore Permanent Resident in 1990 and took up Singapore citizenship in 1995.

The diminutive runner also help to claim Singapore silver (Marathon – 2:34:41) and bronze (10000m – 36:27.39) medal at the 1995 Chiangmai SEA Games.

Her other sporting background includes, sailing, surfing, ballet, equestrian and has a personal best of 2:30:53 at Boston Marathon 1995 (Still under UK citizenship, before taking up SG citizenship).

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Compiled by Sha