Born Perth W.A.
12 December 1959
A Primary School teacher kindled Christine’s interest in high jump, an interest that eventually took her to three Olympic finals and a Commonwealth Games gold medal. Tall and willowy, Stanton was encouraged by both her primary and high school teachers and she became one of Australia’s first female jumpers to use the “Fosbury Flop”.
She enjoyed early success, competing in senior ranks from the age 13. At the age of 16 she cleared 1.83 meters and importantly, came under the influence of Ron Ewen, an eminent jumps coach who had arrived from England.
In 1976 she won the first of eight national high jump titles and earned selection for the 1976 Olympic Games. When her selection was overturned by a justifications committee, Stanton and her coach were sponsored to travel to Montréal for experience.
Her Olympic dream was achieved in Moscow 1980, when, in the first of three Olympic final s appearances, she finished equal sixth with the height of 1.91m.
After her fourth at the 1981 World Championships, Stanton suffered a career- threatening ankle injury. In order to continue in the sport she too the radical step of temporarily changing her take-off leg.
Back on her correct take-off leg the following year, she won silver at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. Stanton again reached the Olympic final in 1984, finishing equal eleventh.
In 1985 Stanton was chosen in the Australian netball team but withdrew to jump at the Canberra world cup. That year she produced her career- best height of 1.96m.
That led to a gold medal at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games where she cleared 1.92m. The 1988 Seoul Olympics was Stanton’s international swan song. She finished seventh in the final with a clearance of 1.93m.