ONE of the world’s best known and most inspirational sportswomen will be centre stage for the first in a series of free talks at a North-East university.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who has won 11 Paralympic gold medals since her debut in Seoul Olympics in 1988, will be at the Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre at Sunderland University's St Peter’s Campus, as part of the Discover Series.

Her talk, Seize the Day, will be held at 6.30pm on Thursday, February 12, with doors opening at 6pmand free parking available on campus from 5.30pm.

An inspiration for an entire generation of young sports people, the former athlete won her last gold medal in 2008, and has gone on to a successful career in UK Athletics, and in the House of Lords.

In Seoul in 1988, she represented Great Britain and won her first Paralympic medal, the 400m bronze.

At the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics she won four gold medals in the 100, 200, 400 and 800m and a silver in the 4x100m relay.

The same year, she won her first of six London Wheelchair Marathons.

Since her retirement, Dame Tanni has continued to be involved in sport. She is a director of UK Athletics and a member of the board of the London Marathon.

To book a place log on to www.sunderland.ac.uk/discoverseries. For more information email: events@sunderland.ac.uk, or call 0191-515 3169.