The organisers of the IAAF World Championships London 2017 have announced that for the first time ever at a World Championships, coaches of medal winning athletes will also receive medals.
The medals, gifted to successful athletes once they return from their ceremony, will be for them to hand to their coach or significant advisor in recognition of the unique and valued working relationship between athlete and coach.
The possibility of creating a coaching medal was investigated by UK Athletics who form the LOC for the Championships, and a request made of the IAAF who have given the gesture their support.
The coaches medal will be based upon similar themes to the athlete medals but will differ in design, with both set to be unveiled in May. Today (26 April) marks exactly 100 days to go to the IAAF World Championships London 2017, which take place at the London Stadium from 4-13 August.
Olympic long jumper Jazmin Sawyers, who was part of the creative panel that fed into the medal design process, said: “The coach-athlete relationship is so special and important so it is fantastic that, at the World Championships in London, coaches are set to be recognised for the efforts they put in to getting an athlete onto the podium. It is great that organisers are leading the way with this form of recognition.
“As an athlete standing on the podium is a very special and proud moment. You are not just representing yourself but everyone who has helped you get to that point. There are lots of people who you would love to have with you on the podium but it just isn’t possible, so it is fantastic for them to be recognised with medals in London.”
Niels de Vos, Championship Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to be the first IAAF World Championship hosts to make provision for a coaching medal, and we would like to thank the IAAF for their support in this matter.
“It is right that the podium moment should belong to the athletes, but the coach plays such a key role in their success so we are pleased to be able to support the athlete to share that success.”
The IAAF World Championships London 2017, and the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017, are together the biggest sporting event in the world in 2017. The biggest event to be staged at the London Stadium since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – it is the first time both Championships have been held in the same city with over 3,000 athletes from over 200 nations competing over 20 days of action.
Tickets are now on sale at https://tickets.london2017athletics.com/.