Man who mentored Brownlees is honoured

THE MAN who has overseen the fledgling careers of Yorkshire’s greatest Olympic family has been honoured at the 2017 UK Coaching Awards.

Leeds-based coach Malcolm Brown MBE, who guided Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee to world acclaim in triathlon, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr Brown won the accolade after 35 years of dedicated service to a largely voluntarybased career, which has seen him work with leading athletes.

Accepting the award, Mr Brown said: “I have enjoyed a long and successful career in coaching, and having recently retired, am honoured that my achievements have been recognised at the UK Coaching Awards.

“I hope that this will help to inspire other coaches to embark on an incredible coaching journey.”

Alongside his work with the Brownlee brothers, he was also head coach for UK Athletics at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, coaching at Leeds Beckett University and as British Triathlon’s Olympic performance manager at London 2012.

He is also the founder and director of triathlon at the Leeds Triathlon Centre and was an integral force in establishing The Brownlee Centre.

He has coached Leeds-based triathletes to an unprecedented five Olympic medals and 89 multiple World, Commonwealth and European medals, including 37 gold.

Yorkshire running group Fitmums and Friends also won in the Coaching Intervention of the Year, Supported by Sport England, category.

Chief executive officer of UK Coaching Mark Gannon said: “I believe his approach of putting the athlete first has been key in his coaching career and the reason why he has created some super British Olympians. A very worthy winner.”