Tanya Blake

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Tanya Blake

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| nationality = British/Maltese

| sport = Athletics

| event = Middle-distance running

| club = Zurrieq Wolves

| coach =

| pb = 800 m: 1:59.56 (2003)
1500 m: 4:29.01 (2003)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|1|16|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Newham, London, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.67|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|58|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| medaltemplates =

}}

Tanya-Gee Blake (born 16 January 1971) is a retired middle-distance runner, who specialized in the 800 metres and competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Born in England to a Maltese mother and American father,{{cite web | title=Tanya Blake – God Given Talent | date=June 25, 2006 | url=https://www.time-to-run.com/malta/profiles/blake.htm | access-date=June 6, 2022}} Blake held dual citizenship to compete internationally and represented Malta.{{cite sports-reference|title = Tanya Blake|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bl/tanya-blake-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418060714/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bl/tanya-blake-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 18 April 2020|access-date = 7 November 2014}}

Blake finished second behind Diane Modahl in the 800 metres event at the 1998 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=2 April 2025}} Blake recorded two more second place finishes behind Kelly Holmes at the 1999 AAA Championships and 2001 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=2 April 2025 }}

Blake set a historic milestone as the first Maltese athlete to break a two-minute barrier and a national record in the 800 metres at the 2003 Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix in Eugene, Oregon, United States, by registering her career best and an A-standard entry time of 1:59.56 it guaranteed her a spot on her adopted nation's team for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.{{cite news|title=Small teams, large ambitions – Malta and Uganda in Paris|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/small-teams-large-ambitions-malta-and-ugand|publisher=IAAF|date=20 August 2003|accessdate=7 November 2014}}{{cite news|title=Tanya Blake sets new 800m mark in Oregon meet|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030526/sport/tanya-blake-sets-new-800m-mark-in-oregon-meet.149288|publisher=Times of Malta|date=26 May 2003|accessdate=7 November 2014}} In the women's 800 metres at the Olympics, unable to repeat her form from the Grand Prix a year earlier, Blake posted outside her national record of 2:19.34 and failed to advance further into the semifinals, as she was the last runner to cross the finish line in heat six.

{{cite news|title=Blake books World Championships and Olympics berths|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030527/sport/blake-books-world-championships-and-olympics-berths.149232|publisher=Times of Malta|date=27 May 2003|accessdate=7 November 2014}}{{cite news|title=Tanya Blake - the first Maltese to qualify by right|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/tanya-blake-the-first-maltese-to-qualify-by|publisher=IAAF|date=12 August 2004|accessdate=7 November 2014}} {{cite web|title=IAAF Athens 2004: Women's 800m Round 1 – Heat 6|url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/olympic-games/28th-olympic-games-3201/results/men/800-metres/heats/result|work=Athens 2004|publisher=IAAF|accessdate=27 September 2013}}{{cite news|title=Blake out of 800 metres|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20040821/sport/blake-out-of-800-metres.114638|publisher=Times of Malta|date=21 August 2004|accessdate=7 November 2014}}

During her athletic career, Blake trained for the Zurrieq Wolves track and field team.{{cite news|title=Early edge for Pembroke teams|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030715/sport/early-edge-for-pembroke-teams.145638|publisher=Times of Malta|date=15 July 2003|accessdate=7 November 2014}}