| Debbie Palmer | |
| Full Name: | Deborah Samantha Palmer |
| Nationality: | British |
| Birth Date: | 17 November 1973[1] |
| Birth Place: | Swindon, England |
| Sport: | Short track speed skating |
Deborah Samantha "Debbie" Palmer (born 17 November 1973) is a British former short track speed skater, who is now a lecturer and researcher. She competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics.[2] Palmer was ten times British Champion (1991 to 2000), and twelve times European Championship medalist including 1995 European champion (3000m). She was a World Cup 1500m silver medalist and finished 4th in the 1500m, and ranked 5th overall, at the 1996 World Championships in The Hague, Netherlands.[3] [4]
Palmer competed in short track speed skating from 1990 to 2002.[5] She took part at the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics, and was named as a reserve for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.[6] Palmer retired from speed skating in 2002.[7]
In 2006, Palmer returned to ice hockey, after retiring from the sport six years earlier.[8] Palmer had previously played for the Swindon Top Cats, and returned to Great Britain's national ice hockey team.[8] She previously was forced to retire from ice hockey after suffering a prolapsed disc in her back.[9]
In 2009, she gained a PhD in injury epidemiology, working in the field of sports injuries and epidemiology for more than twelve years.[5] Palmer travelled to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, working with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to look after the wellbeing of athletes.[7] In 2021, Palmer also worked with the Enduro World Series to look at injuries sustained by mountain bikers.[10]