Timothy David Benjamin (born 2 May 1982) is a former professional athlete from Wales. He specialised in the 400 metres who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[1]
By 2002 he had established himself as one of Britain's best athletes, winning the British AAA Championships title,[2] and running in the successful Team GB squad at the European Cup. In the Commonwealth Games that year, he helped guide Wales to a silver medal in the controversial 4 × 400 metres relay, which was won by England, and disputed by many, including the athletes themselves. It was during that year also that he earned a silver in the European Athletics U23 Championships in Poland.
In late 2006, he announced that he was moving back to his hometown of Cardiff to be coached by former 100 metres hurdles world record holder Colin Jackson, whilst fellow Welsh relay member Rhys Williams would also be moving back from Loughborough. Benjamin competed at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, but failed to make the final, recording 46.17s in the semis.
Benjamin suffered a number of injuries and decided to bring an end to his athletics career in mid-2009. Citing his disappointment in missing the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he said that "taking an individual or relay spot in the Berlin World Championships from an aspiring 2012 Olympian would be disingenuous and unfair".[3][4]
Benjamin won four British titles during his career, in addition to his 2002 success he was also AAA champion from 2004 to 2006.[5]
Following a number of injuries, he announced his retirement from athletics in 2009.
Benjamin is married to a sweetheart from his schooldays, Natalie Lewis, an accomplished Welshmiddle distance specialist in her own right. They married in November 2007. His father is a highly regarded professor of Biosciences at Cardiff University.[citation needed]
