24 September 2007

Andy Norman, the former policeman who managed many of the UK’s leading athletes has died suddenly after flying back to Britain from the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart.

Norman worked as the Promotions Officer for the British Athletics Federation (BAF) (the organisation that preceded UK Athletics as the sport’s national governing body) organising meetings such as the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.

The athletes he managed included major champions Steve Backley, Linford Christie, Jonathan Edwards, Dame Kelly Holmes, Colin Jackson, Steve Ovett, Iwan Thomas and Fatima Whitbread, to whom he was married.

After his departure from BAF in the mid-1990s, Norman – a licensed race agent – operated mostly overseas generating competition opportunities for emerging UK athletes at meetings that he promoted in South Africa and throughout Eastern Europe. He also organised the 1998 European Championships in Budapest and went on to advise the organisers of major meetings in several other countries; and worked as an Advertising Commissioner at numerous Grand Prix meetings.

UK Athletics Chief Executive, Niels de Vos said: “Andy played a significant role in the careers of a number of our top athletes over the years. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.”

A private funeral will take place for family only.