Background
She was born in Southampton, England in 1955.
She was born in Southampton, England in 1955.
The marriage later ended in divorce. She also was runner up in European cup finals in 1975, and 1977 in 400, and 400 relay again. After retiring from athletics Hartley married Robert Wass, better known as comedian and actor Bobby Knutt.
As Donna Hartley-Wass, she competed for several years on the United Kingdom women"s body building circuit, winning the National Amateur Body Building Association"s Mission Britain Physique trophy in 1988, having placed third the previous year.
Her bodybuilding career was short-lived and for several years after that she ran a line dancing school in Sheffield near the family home. Hartley-Wass featured on the front cover of Health & Strength Magazine.
Hartley trained at a Sheffield health studio jointly owned by Bobby Knutt.
She was a south of England sprint champion, and won the American Automobile Association"s 200 metres in 1972 then the 400 metres in 1975. In 1977 she was United Kingdom 400 metres champion. In 1978, she won two Commonwealth gold medals in Edmonton, Canada, where she won the 400 metres, and the 4x400 relay. In 1979 she was European cup semi finalist winner in both 400, and 400 relay again. In 1980, she competed at the Moscow Olympic Games where she won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 relay. Under the guidance of the health studio owner and ex-Sheffield Wednesday coach Tony Toms, Hartley achieved national success very quickly on the women"s bodybuilding circuit. Gold medalist (400 m relay) 1978 Commonwealth Games.
