15 January 2013

Lloyd Cowan has been appointed to the role of Lead Sprints Coach (coach based support) in the latest coaching appointment by Performance Director Neil Black and Head Coach Peter Eriksson.

Cowan, who coached former 400m World Champion and 2008 Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu to a silver medal at the London Games last summer, is relishing the opportunity to continue coaching his group in the lead up to Rio 2016.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to continue working with Neil Black and Peter Eriksson so that the athletes in my training group can continue their development and capitalise on the success of London 2012. It’s important that we keep our momentum going to keep progressing and enjoy more good results in the future.”

As well as Ohuruogu, Cowan is coach to 2011 World Championships bronze medallist Andy Turner, World Indoor 4x400m gold medallist Shana Cox and 19 year old Bianca Williams, who was the top ranked British junior over 100m during 2012 with a time of 11.47.

He also worked closely with UKA’s Olympic Head Coach Peter Eriksson in 2012 as a sprints coach for the Paralympic team who went on to enjoy huge successes in the Olympic Stadium.

Cowan, a former international over 110m hurdles, believes that the athletes he coaches have shown a lot of promise for the future in their recent performances.

“Christine Ohuruogu’s silver medal at the Olympics was a fantastic achievement and I’m sure we will build on that, as well as on the other great performances of the athletes in my training group during 2012, in the coming months and years leading up to the next Olympics in 2016.”

Eriksson believes that Cowan’s past record shows that will be an important part of UKA’s coaching team over the next Olympic cycle.

“Lloyd has been very successful in recent years and the athletes he coaches always perform on the big stage when it matters. I know that his experience and knowledge will continue to develop athletes that will have success both domestically and internationally.

“I’m looking forward to working with Lloyd to build on what has been achieved in the last few years so that our athletes can reach their potential during the next cycle leading up to Rio in 2016."