PACE Management and O’Hara the right fit
TOP INTERNATIONAL athlete management firm, PACE Sports Management, has revealed that new recruit, Jamaica’s Michael O’Hara, fits well into their philosophy of working with the best current and upcoming athletes, and tipped the ace youth sprinter to go on to become a world beater.
PACE’s confirmation follows last Wednesday’s announcement that t he teen had signed a professional long-term contract with German sports apparel manufacturer, Puma, and PACE Sports Management, respectively.
PACE is headed by Ricky Simms and Marion Steininger.
It currently works with some of track and field’s biggest names, including six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt.
The firm has been instrumental in developing the iconic Jamaican into a global superstar, on and off the track.
“PACE Sports Management likes to work with the top talents in track and field, and Michael (O’Hara) is certainly one of the world’s top young sprint talents,” Simms told The Sunday
Gleaner.
“We will now aim to help him make the transition to professional over the next few years,” he added, while noting that no pressure will be on the teenager to prove his worth too quickly.
GOLDEN BOY
O’Hara is a recent ISSA/ GraceKennedy Boys Championships golden boy, with four gold medals from this year’s staging. He is also a 2013 World Youth 200 metres champion.
He will be working alongside legendary sprint coach Glen Mills and Bolt’s personal manager, Nugent Walker.
“He (O’Hara) will be under no immediate pressure. The next few years are about his progression and build-up to peak at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games,” Simms stressed.
Simms, also a worldwide commercial and competition agent, added: “We are happy to welcome Michael to PACE Sports Management. He has been very successful so far in his career at the school, youth and junior levels.”
O’Hara said he does not know how soon he will begin working with Racers Track Club.
“I can’t say how soon I will start working with Racers, but I am very elated. I mean, it is a dream come true, so I am happy,” he underlined, while referring other questions to his management team. Other Olympic and World Champions stars from PACE include Britain’s Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Phillips Idowu, and Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot.