Tessa Sanderson is a retired British javelin thrower, born on April 14, 1966, in Wolverhampton, England. She is best known for winning the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, making her the first British woman to win an Olympic gold in a field event. Throughout her career, she set multiple national records and competed in several international championships. In addition to her Olympic success, Sanderson also won a total of three medals at the Commonwealth Games, including gold in 1986. After retiring from competitive athletics, she became involved in coaching and sports administration, promoting athletics and encouraging young athletes in the UK.