Jonathan Bigg: The Former 800m Runner Quietly Shaping British Athletics Success
Jonathan Bigg may be widely recognised as the husband of Olympic champion Sally Gunnell, but his own career deserves equal attention. Long before he became connected with one of Britain’s greatest athletes through marriage, Bigg was building his own place in competitive running.
Also known as Jon Bigg, he competed in the 800 metres and represented England during his younger years. An injury prevented him from taking his racing career as far as he had hoped, but it did not end his relationship with athletics. Instead, he turned his experience into a successful coaching career.
These days Bigg is highly respected for his work with middle distance runners, including those who have represented Great Britain at major international championships. His journey is not a typical celebrity story. It is a story about sporting knowledge, personal determination and helping talented runners reach their potential.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jonathan Bigg |
| Also Known As | Jon Bigg |
| Profession | Athletics Coach and Former 800m Runner |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous For | Coaching British middle-distance athletes |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Main Event | 800 Metres |
| Personal Best | 1:48.3 in the 800m |
| Coaching Speciality | Middle-distance and endurance running |
| Associated Clubs | Brighton Phoenix and PHX/TRK |
| Wife | Sally Gunnell |
| Children | Three sons |
| Notable Athletes Coached | Jemma Reekie, Kyle Langford, George Mills, Elliot Giles and Charlie Grice |
| Current Status | Active athletics coach |
| Known For Personally | Husband of Olympic champion Sally Gunnell |
Who Is Jonathan Bigg?
Jonathan Bigg is a British former middle-distance runner and athletics coach. His name regularly appears in searches connected with Sally Gunnell’s husband, but sport has always been a major part of his personal identity.
During his competitive career, Bigg specialised in the 800m. Sussex Athletics reports that he represented England as a young runner and later became an important figure within the Brighton and Sussex athletics community. His recorded personal best over 800m was 1 minute 48.3 seconds, showing that he competed at a serious level.
Unfortunately, injury stopped him from developing his career in the way he had planned. This could have pushed him away from athletics completely. Instead, it encouraged him to enter coaching and use what he had learned to support other runners.
Jonathan Bigg’s Early Athletics Career
The 800m is one of the most demanding events in track athletics. It requires the pace of a sprinter, the fitness of an endurance runner and the tactical awareness to react during a fast and crowded race.
Bigg’s experience in this event gave him a strong understanding of middle-distance competition. He knew how athletes needed to balance speed work, longer runs, recovery sessions and race planning.
According to Sussex Athletics, Bigg represented England in the 800m when he was young. Athletics Weekly has also described him as a former international runner whose competitive experience helped shape his later coaching methods.
Although injury shortened his running career, it gave him a valuable understanding of setbacks. This became useful when coaching athletes facing poor form, physical problems or disappointing results. He understood that athletic progress does not always follow a straight path.
How Jonathan Bigg Became an Athletics Coach
Jonathan Bigg’s move into coaching started after fellow athlete Tim Baylie asked him for help while moving from the 400m to the 800m. Bigg began sharing his knowledge and soon realised that he enjoyed planning sessions and helping runners improve.
What started as support for one athlete gradually developed into a long-term profession. Bigg became connected with Brighton Phoenix, a well-known athletics club with a history of developing runners across different age groups and events.
He also became associated with PHX/TRK, an elite training group based in Sussex. The group has brought together talented runners who compete in middle-distance and endurance events. Bigg’s role has involved building training programmes, leading track sessions and preparing athletes for major competitions.
His work has not been limited to one type of runner. He has coached established international athletes as well as younger competitors who are still learning how to manage training, racing and the demands of elite sport.
Jonathan Bigg’s Coaching Style
One reason Jonathan Bigg has remained respected in athletics is his belief in individual training. He does not treat every runner in the same way because each athlete has different strengths, weaknesses and physical needs.
His coaching approach combines speed, endurance, mileage, strength and race awareness. He believes middle-distance runners need the abilities of both sprinters and distance athletes. They must be fast enough to compete during the final stages of a race but strong enough to maintain their position before the sprint begins.
Bigg has explained that training creates a stimulus to which the body eventually adapts. For this reason, he avoids repeating exactly the same comfortable sessions every week. He introduces different challenges so that runners continue to develop.
Mental strength is another important part of his approach. An athlete can have excellent physical ability but still struggle when dealing with pressure, injury or unexpected race situations. Bigg therefore encourages runners to understand the tactical side of competition rather than relying only on fitness.
Leading Athletes Coached by Jonathan Bigg
Over the years, Jonathan Bigg has worked with several recognised names in British athletics. His former training groups have included runners such as Elliot Giles, Kyle Langford, George Mills, Charlie Grice, Spencer Thomas, Ellie Baker and Shelayna Oskan-Clarke.
George Mills publicly identified Bigg as his coach after moving to Sussex to join the Phoenix training environment. Charlie Grice and Spencer Thomas were also connected with Bigg through Brighton Phoenix during important stages of their careers.
Bigg has spoken proudly about athletes who achieved medals at major competitions. These successes include Kyle Langford’s Commonwealth medal and Shelayna Oskan-Clarke’s World Indoor silver medal.
The results show the range of his coaching work. Some runners have specialised in the 800m, while others have raced over 1500m and longer distances. His ability to adjust training for different events has helped him remain influential within British middle-distance athletics.
His Important Work with Jemma Reekie
Jonathan Bigg received fresh public attention when Scottish middle-distance runner Jemma Reekie moved to Brighton and began working with him. Reekie had already achieved international success, but she wanted to make changes after a difficult period involving illness and changes to her coaching situation.
Scottish Athletics reported in December 2023 that Bigg and Sally Gunnell were coaching Reekie after she joined their training environment in Brighton. Their support covered both the physical and mental sides of competition.
Reekie produced a strong indoor season in 2024 and won silver in the women’s 800m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. British Athletics officially listed Jon Bigg as her coach during that championship.
Their working relationship continued beyond that medal. In 2025, Reekie discussed changing her running style after moving to Brighton to work with Bigg. British Athletics also named him as her coach when selecting her for international competitions in 2025 and 2026.
This continuing partnership confirms that Bigg remains active at the highest level of British athletics.
Jonathan Bigg and Sally Gunnell’s Relationship
Jonathan Bigg and Sally Gunnell met through athletics when they were young. Sussex Athletics states that they were both 19 when they met during an under-23 athletics trip to Australia.
Their shared connection with sport became an important part of their relationship. The couple later married and had three children.
Gunnell became one of Britain’s most celebrated track athletes. She won Olympic gold in the 400m hurdles in 1992 and also secured World, European and Commonwealth titles during her outstanding career. Her official website describes her as the only woman to have held all four major titles at the same time.
Bigg observed Gunnell’s career closely and learned from the planning behind her success. Seeing her train for the big championships, he learned how important it is to have a long-term coach rather than chasing short-term results.
Although Gunnell is the more famous public figure, their partnership is based on a shared understanding of elite sport. Bigg has developed his own reputation through coaching rather than relying on his wife’s achievements.
Their Family and Private Life
Jonathan Bigg and Sally Gunnell have generally kept their family life away from unnecessary media attention. Public reports confirm that they have three sons, but the couple has not built its profile around celebrity gossip.
Their son Finley attracted some athletics attention when he competed in running events as a teenager. However, Bigg and Gunnell reportedly avoided pressuring their children to follow the same sporting path as their parents.
This approach reflects Bigg’s wider coaching values. He appears to believe that motivation must come from the athlete rather than being forced by parents, coaches or public expectations.
There is also no trustworthy public estimate of Jonathan Bigg’s net worth. Figures published by unverified biography websites should not be treated as confirmed information. His recognised professional background is based on athletics coaching, performance development and fitness-related work.
Why Jonathan Bigg Continues to Attract Public Interest
Interest in Jonathan Bigg comes from two main areas. Some people search for him because they want to learn more about Sally Gunnell’s marriage and family. Others recognise his name through his work with British runners.
His career also presents an inspiring example of adapting after disappointment. Injury prevented him from achieving all his goals as an athlete, but he found another way to contribute to the sport.
Rather than compete for medals himself, he started coaching athletes for national and international championships. His influence may not always be visible during television coverage, but it can be seen in the performances of the runners he has guided.
Conclusion
Jonathan Bigg is much more than Sally Gunnell’s husband. He is a former international-level 800m runner, an experienced middle-distance coach and a respected figure in British athletics.
His competitive career was shortened by injury, but that setback led him towards coaching. Through Brighton Phoenix, PHX/TRK and his work with leading athletes, he has helped runners improve their speed, endurance, confidence and race intelligence.
His continuing work with Jemma Reekie shows that he remains involved in elite competition. While Bigg prefers a quieter public profile, his influence can be found in the careers of many successful British runners. His story is also a powerful reminder that athletic achievement is not the sole preserve of the athletes on the track. It is also shaped by the knowledgeable coaches working behind them.
(FAQs)
Who is Jonathan Bigg?
Jonathan Bigg, also known as Jon Bigg, is a British former 800m runner and respected athletics coach. He is also married to Olympic champion Sally Gunnell.
Was Jonathan Bigg a professional athlete?
Bigg competed seriously in the 800m and represented England during his younger years. He achieved a personal best of approximately 1 minute 48.3 seconds before injury shortened his career.
Which athletes has Jonathan Bigg coached?
He has worked with athletes including Jemma Reekie, Elliot Giles, Kyle Langford, George Mills, Charlie Grice, Ellie Baker and Shelayna Oskan-Clarke at different stages of their careers.
How did Jonathan Bigg meet Sally Gunnell?
Jonathan Bigg and Sally Gunnell met through athletics. They were both 19 years old when they took part in an under-23 athletics trip to Australia.
Is Jonathan Bigg still coaching?
Yes. British Athletics continued to identify Jon Bigg as Jemma Reekie’s coach in its selections and reports for the 2025 and 2026 international athletics seasons.
