22nd May 2017

UK Athletics is deeply saddened to learn of the death of two-time Olympian Philippa Roles this past weekend.

The 39-year-old discus thrower from Neath, Wales, represented Great Britain at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.  Competing for the Swansea athletics club, her personal best throw of 62.89 metres, achieved in June 2003, has her placed fourth in the British all-time rankings.

Wales’ 2008 discus Champion also placed fourth at two Commonwealth Games, in Manchester and Delhi, and sixth in Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne.  As a junior, she finished third at the 1997 European Junior Championships and fourth at the 1999 European U23 Championships.

Niels de Vos, CEO of UK Athletics, spoke on behalf of the governing body: “All at UK Athletics send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Philippa at this sad time.”