Emily Freeman

Emily Kaye Freeman (born 24 November 1980) is a retired British Olympic sprinter and advocate for gender equality in sports from Yorkshire, England.

She co-founded Totally Runable after her retirement and now works full-time for that social enterprise company in and with schools, pupils, staff and parents, with the aim of inspiring and empowering others to be the people they dream of being.

Following the unexpected death of her father in 2000, she transferred to UCL to complete a Masters in Civil Engineering (MEng).

Freeman began her athletics career aged 10 at Spenborough AC in Liversedge, West Yorkshire, England.

The same year she won Gold at the European Team Championships 100m in a time of 11.42, the first British woman to win the event.

Continuing Achilles problems ruled Freeman out of competition in 2011, 2012 and 2013, including what would have been a home Olympic Games in London in 2012.

She returned to fitness winning the 2014 Yorkshire Championships in a time of 55.31, retiring after that event, aged 33, to pursue a career outside athletics.

She regularly runs at Dewsbury, Nostell Priory, Concord, Wakefield Thornes and Rother Valley parkruns.

In October 2015 she ran the Yorkshire Marathon, finishing in a time of 4 hours 22 minutes 58 seconds, to fundraise for Brainkind.

Whilst working for JNP Group she met her now husband Philip Cantrell, whom she married in December 2009.

Totally Runable began working with adult beginner and challenge runners, companies and charities.

Since February 2016 Totally Runable has been working with schools and children, particularly girls, with the aim of improving confidence and self-esteem, both in and out of sport.