Biography
Perri Shakes-Drayton, born Peirresha Alexandra Shakes-Drayton on 21 December 1988, in London, is a former British track and field athlete best known for her talent in the 400 meter hurdles and later the 400 meters flat.
Her career highlights include winning gold in the 400 meters at the 2013 European Indoor Championships and winning silver and bronze with the British 4x400m relay team at the World Championships. However, her journey was met with adversity when a serious knee injury in 2013 forced her to switch from hurdles to the 400 meter flat. Despite this setback, she showed remarkable resilience, coming back strong.
Following her athletic career, Perri Shakes-Drayton moved into media and entertainment, appearing on shows such as “Dancing on ice” And “Richard OsmanThe game’s house.” She retired from professional athletics in 2020 at the age of 31, leaving behind a lasting legacy of perseverance and contribution to British sport.
British track and field athlete
Perri Shakes-Drayton |
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 Perri Shakes-Drayton: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Info & About Data | |
| Real name: | Peirresha Alexandra Shakes-Drayton |
| Stage name: | Perri Shakes-Drayton |
| Born: | December 21, 1988 (35 years old) |
| Place of birth: | London, UK |
| Nationality: | British |
| Education: | Holy Family RC Primary School, Bishop Challoner Catholic College, Brunel University |
| Height: | 1.72 m |
| Parents: | Patrick Shakes-Drayton |
| Siblings: | not applicable |
| Couple: | Mike Edwards (d. 2019) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | not applicable |
| Children: | Matthew Olaoluwa Edwards |
| Job: | Athlete • Television personality |
| Net worth: | 100,000 USD-1 million USD (USD) |
Early Life & Education
Perri Shakes-Drayton was born on December 21, 1988, in east London to Christian parents of Grenada descent. Raised in Bow, she maintained her roots in the area and continued to reside there.
Her father, Patrick Shakes-Drayton, notably worked as a fitness trainer for famous boxer Lennox Lewis, which may have influenced her early interest in sports and bodybuilding.
Perri Shakes-Drayton’s educational journey began Holy Family RC Elementary School in Poplar, followed by Bishop Challoner Catholic University in Stepney, both environments had the potential to nurture her Christian faith and community values.
Her academic pursuits took her Brunel Universitywhere she studied Sports Science, graduating with a commendable 2:1. This educational background not only equipped her with theoretical knowledge but also complemented her with practical sports skills.
Career
Perri Shakes-Drayton began her athletic career specializing in the 400 meter hurdles, quickly earning a place in Great Britain’s international team. Early in her career, she demonstrated her talent when she won a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Her standout moment came in 2013 when she won gold in the 400 meters at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, establishing herself as one of Britain’s top female sprinters . She also played a key role in the British women’s 4x400m relay team, winning silver at the 2011 World Championships and bronze in 2013.
In 2013, a serious knee injury significantly impacted her career, forcing her to shift her focus from hurdles to 400 meter flat running to reduce stress on her knees. Despite the defeat, Perri Shakes-Drayton made an impressive comeback, adapting her training and technique to excel in the new event. Her perseverance and ability to overcome challenges are evident as she continues to compete, contribute to relay teams and strive for personal bests.
Shakes-Drayton retired from professional athletics in 2020 at the age of 31, after a career filled with triumphs and hardships. After retirement, she pursued media opportunities, appearing on reality television shows such as “Dancing on ice,” and advocates for charity work, especially supporting miscarriage awareness, drawing from her own personal experience. Her journey has inspired many, reflecting her resilience both on and off the track.
Social Media
- Instagram: Perri Shakes-Drayton (@itspsd)
- Wikipedia: Perri Shakes-Drayton
- Facebook: Perri Shakes-Drayton
- Twitter: Perri Shakes Drayton (@shakesdrayton) / X
- LinkedIn: Perri Shakes-Drayton – Sponsored Athlete – Nike
Personal life
Perri Shakes-Drayton married Mike Edwards, a high jumper and reality TV star, in a beautiful ceremony in Buckinghamshire in 2019. Mike became even more famous after participating in the reality show Big Brother Naija. Perri’s marriage to Mike is her only publicly known marriage, and there are no records of any marriages before or after that.
The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Matthew Olaoluwa Edwards, on August 26, 2020. Perri has publicly shared her experiences as a mother, including pregnancy and childbirth, through social networks and interviews.
Before marrying Mike, Perri’s dating life was kept relatively private and no details were made public about her previous relationships. Some reports mistakenly linked her to a celebrity dating story involving Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, about someone else named Perrie, highlighting the confusion with her name.
Net worth
Perri Shakes-Drayton, a former British track and field star best known for her success in the 400 meter hurdles and later the 400 meter flat, has an estimated net worth between $100,000 and $1 million.
Her athletic career includes major achievements, such as winning gold medals at the 2012 World Indoor Championships and 2013 European Indoor Championships as well as competing at the Olympics and Championships. world.
After retiring from athletics, Perri expanded her career into media, participating in shows such as “Dancing on ice” and engaging in public speaking and charity work, may have contributed to her overall financial well-being.
