GB Rowing Team’s Grobler made inaugural Coaching Fellow

Jürgen Grobler has been inducted as one of two inaugural Honorary Fellows to UK Sport’s Coaching Fellowship.

The GB Rowing Team Chief Coach for Men was recognised in a ceremony with his fellow inductee Sir David Brailsford at this week’s UK Sport World Class Performance Conference.
 
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UK Sport’s new Fellowship aims to champion the coaching profession and support the development of world class coaches in the UK.
 
Grobler and Braislford were chosen for their proven track record of delivering sustained success, but also their commitment to coach development and willingness to share and impart knowledge. 
  
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said: “To remain successful in a very competitive environment, the British high performance system has to continue to evolve, innovate and work in partnership to harness all the talent, experience and knowledge available to us.
 
“Sir David Brailsford and Jurgen Grobler are exceptionally talented and experienced individuals who share our vision for success and as Coaching Fellows they will help to inspire and support the development of the next generation of leaders”.

Grobler said: “I am proud and delighted to be chosen by UK Sport as one of only two inaugural Fellows.  It is a privilege for my sport of rowing.  I have had the honour but also the responsibility of working with many, many talented athletes in my coaching career in the UK who have sacrificed so much to achieve their dreams. My work has been eased in more recent years by the advent of National Lottery funding which has made such a significant difference to high performance sport. This award is as much for the rowers I have coached as it is for me.”

 Sir David Brailsford, Performance Director of British Cycling, said: “Good coaching has been a crucial ingredient in the success of the GB Cycling Team over the years, and supporting our coaches in their professional development is key. I’m excited and honoured to be part of UK Sport’s Coaching Fellowship, which will help ensure we get the best out of our coaches, and continue to see British sport go from strength to strength.”
 
 
UK Sport has worked with over 200 coaches on their professional development over the past eight years, and, of these, more than 50 worked with athletes who competed at London 2012. These coaches worked directly with athletes who secured at least 32 of the medals won across the Olympic and Paralympic Games, including 12 golds.