Ms Voigt’s grandfather Emil Voigt was a gold medal winner in the five mile race, at the 1908 London Olympics, before he emigrated to Australia in 1911.

Now 100 years since his Olympics victory, Ms Voigt has been invited to return to the United Kingdom to present an award in his honour,at the Great Manchester Run on May 18.

The Great Manchester Run is a 10km running race similar to Sydney’s City to Surf, and organised by events company Nova International.

“They contacted me knowing that it was 100 years on,” Ms Voigt said. “(Emil) was born in Manchester and ran for the Manchester club.

“They’re setting up a five mile point along the 10km, and anyone that beats his time from 100 years ago will be presented with a certificate that I designed.”

While in the UK, Ms Voigt will meet Manchester’s Lord Mayor and be interviewed by the BBC.

Amazingly, Ms Voigt’s grandfather still holds the Olympic world record for the five mile race, as it was abandoned in favour of a race measured in metric units the year after he set the record.

A man with many talents and passions, Emil Voigt was also an important pioneer of early Australian radio, establishing the station 2KY in 1925.

Although Ms Voigt only met her grandfather once, she has spent many years researching his story and achievements. The historian said she was honoured to be attending the Manchester event for her grandfather.

“I think I have inherited many of my grandfather’s characteristics – determination being one of them – I’m strong-willed like he was, focus on things that I am passionate about, and never give up,” she said.

“A good illustration of this in my grandfather’s case was the way he won the gold medal in 1908.

“No-one outside of the UK had ever heard of him, he had never run that distance before, he was injured in the heats, refused to withdraw, then went on to win against all the famous internationals.”