Cindy Sember

Background

If any athlete has had the makings to be the world’s best, it’s Cindy Sember (née Ofili). The daughter of Nigerian and British immigrants, Cindy was a standout sprint hurdler throughout high school, following in the footsteps of her older sister Tiffany. Like Tiffany, Cindy was a trackstar at the University of Michigan, and in March 2016, she took home the NCAA Indoor title for the Wolverines.

Graduating from Michigan in June, Cindy turned pro, and was runner-up behind big sis Tiffany at the UK Olympic Trials, earning her a spot in Rio. An up-and-coming recent college grad would be thrilled to make the final, as Cindy did. But making the most of her spot in Rio, Cindy turned in the performance of her life, finishing fourth, ahead of her older sister, and a mere 0.02 seconds from the bronze medal. 

An Achilles tendon injury prematurely ended Cindy's 2017 season and limited her 2018 campaign. Now fully healthy, Cindy has bounced back, breaking the 13.00 second-barrier for the first time since her injury, and earned a spot on Team GB's squad for the 2019 IAAF World Championships.

After a 2020 season that was largely limited by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cindy was quick to get back to her top form, winning the bronze medal in the 60m hurdles at the 2021 European Indoor Championships. Later that spring, Cindy took major victories in Gateshead and at the Drake Relays, the latter of which in a new lifetime best of 12.57, a mark she would lower to 12.53 weeks later at the Mt. SAC Relays. 

At the British Olympic Trials, Cindy finished third, securing her spot on Team GB for her second-straight Olympic Games. Following the Olympics, Cindy ended her year strongly, with a victory in Padova, Italy, and a fifth-place finish at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich.

The following year, Cindy won the British trials, earning her a spot at both the World Championships and Commonwealth Games. At the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Cindy ran 12.50 to break the British record and finished fifth in the final of the 100m hurdles. Just weeks later, Cindy took third in 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, winning the bronze medal for England.

In 2020, Cindy married longtime partner John Sember.