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Clare BaldingEnglish sports commentator
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Equestrian Career and Journalism
- Broadcasting Achievements
- Writing and Activism
- Personal Life and Health
Early Life and Education
Claire Balding was born in Kingsclere, Hampshire, where her father was a racehorse trainer who once trained the champion thoroughbred Mill Reef. She attended boarding school in Berkshire, where she served as head girl. Balding initially planned to study law at Christ's College, Cambridge, but failed her entrance interview. She ultimately opted to study English at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she became actively involved in student politics and served as President of the Cambridge Union Society during Easter 1992.
Equestrian Career and Journalism
Balding developed a passion for equestrian sports early on and was a leading amateur jockey by 1989. She joined BBC National Radio in 1994, contributing to programs on '5 Live,' 'Radio 1,' 'Radio 2,' and 'Radio 4.' Her television debut came in 1995, covering the Royal Ascot races. In December 1997, she became the BBC's full-time horse racing presenter, taking over from Julian Wilson and covering major events such as the Grand National.
Broadcasting Achievements
Balding has covered four Olympic Games, including Atlanta on BBC Radio and Sydney, Athens, and Beijing on BBC Television. She has also covered two Paralympic Games, two Winter Olympics, and two Commonwealth Games. In addition to horse racing, Balding has presented rugby league matches, including the Rugby League Challenge Cup semi-final. She hosted a series on British cyclist Harold Briercliffe for the BBC in 2010. In January 2011, she co-hosted the Channel 4 show 'Famous and Fearless' with Chris Evans, which was later canceled due to low ratings.
Writing and Activism
Balding writes columns for The Observer, Evening Standard, and The Sporting Life. She has a contract with Viking Press for her autobiography, 'My Animals and Other Family,' which is set for publication in September 2012. Balding received the Royal Television Society's Sports Presenter of the Year Award in 2003. She was also named Racing Journalist of the Year in the same year and was shortlisted for the Racing Broadcaster of the Year Award.
Personal Life and Health
Balding entered into a civil partnership with fellow BBC employee Alice Arnold in September 2006. The couple lives in Chiswick, London. On May 29, 2009, Balding announced that she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The tumor was surgically removed, and she underwent further treatment. On August 21, 2009, Balding declared that the cancer was now in remission after scans showed no evidence of the disease. She has been an active supporter of the British Thyroid Foundation since 2010.
