'Athlete Champions' for world class success
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Gail Emms will be acting as an 'Athlete Champion'
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Jessica Whitehorn 21 January 2010
UK Sport will be working with several ‘Athlete Champions’ in the coming years, with the aim of harnessing the considerable knowledge and experience of successful world class British athletes to benefit initiatives across the organisation.
Athletes have already been involved in shaping the recent Athlete Insights survey and the ‘Champions’ will now help with the interpretation and understanding of the results and what they mean for sports and the high performance system as a whole. Part of the ‘Athlete Champions’ role will also be to work with the UK Talent Team to mentor newly selected athletes to the World Class Performance Programme as they transition into the elite environment. Where appropriate, they may also be asked to act as expert advisors to key decision makers or projects within UK Sport.
UK Sport’s Director of Performance, Peter Keen, said: “In UK Sport’s capacity as the nation’s high performance sports agency, it is our responsibility to shape the future of the elite sporting system. With any decisions or interventions made, the athletes’ perspective is a crucial factor. Our ‘Athlete Champions’ have experienced the world class programme first hand and know exactly what it takes to win. They will be a fantastic resource for us to tap into as we continue to strive toward success in 2012 and beyond.”
The ‘Athlete Champions’ are Gail Emms (Olympic silver medallist, badminton, 2004), Georgina Harland (Olympic bronze medallist, modern pentathlon, 2004), Clare Strange (Paralympian, wheelchair basketball, 2000, 2004 and 2008), Leon Taylor (Olympic silver medallist, diving, 2004) Steve Williams (Olympic Champion, rowing, 2004 and 2008) and Sarah Winkless (Olympic bronze medallist, rowing, 2004). UK Sport is also in discussion with other athletes who may join the initiative as projects are identified that could benefit from their input.
Gail Emms said: “I am really excited and honoured to be part of the ‘Athlete Champions’ project. When I was progressing through the World Class Performance Programme, so many people helped me achieve my goals and dreams, especially older and more experienced athletes, so I know that this can be invaluable to the up and coming sportsmen and women today.
“It is not just the advice that an ex-Olympian can give, it is the confidence you gain from having someone who will listen and reassure you. Hopefully I can do that for the next generation of sports stars.”
Clare Strange said: “I am very excited to be working with UK Sport in this way; having the opportunity to support their projects and giving something back to other athletes working towards a dream is very motivating. I also see this as a chance to learn a few things that might help me in my own sporting goals!”
Georgina Harland said: “The Athlete Champions initiative is an exciting opportunity to get involved at the very heart of sport within the UK. As recently retired athletes the hope is that we can bring a unique perspective to the work of UK Sport and provide support to athlete focused projects.”
