With 100 days to go until the IAAF World Championships London 2017, the local organising committee has announced that for the first time ever, coaches of medal-winning athletes will also receive medals.
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.
Bryan Yongo, a sports commentator says: “This is a very good initiative because the hard work of the coaches will be recognized. Because people might think that athletes are working and training alone to win gold medals. Now in the shadows there are people who push them, who draw them, who inspire them. “ “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,” said Olympic long jump finalist Jazmin Sawyers, who was part of the creative panel that fed into the medal design process. “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 a medal in London.”
“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,” added championship director Niels de Vos.
“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 new move will be a gesture of recognition of the unique and valued working relationship between athletes and their coaches. The coaches will however not be called to the podium. The London World Championships will take place from 4 to 13 August.
