Welsh Athletics Coaching Legend Arnold Receives IOC Lifetime Achievement Award

The man who guided two Welsh hurdlers to World Championship titles has been awarded a prestigious lifetime achievement award by the International Olympic Committee.

Malcolm Arnold OBE coached Colin Jackson to the 110m hurdle title at the 1993 World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, where the Welshman set a world record of 12.91, which still stands as the championship record.

Five years earlier, coach and athlete had combined to see Jackson win silver at the Olympic Games in Seoul.

In 2011, Arnold coached Dai Greene to 400m hurdle glory at the Daegu World Championships, following on from the Commonwealth Games gold in Delhi and the European title in Barcelona, which were both claimed by the Llanelli hurdler in 2010.

As well as coaching Jackson and Greene to world titles, Arnold was Wales’ National Coach between 1974 and 1994.

The hugely respected coach trained athletes from all around the world during a career that spanned almost 60 years, until he retired in 2016.

Arnold began his career as a physical education teacher, before heading to Uganda to become the Head Coach of the Athletics Federation. He led John Akii-Bua to African history by becoming Africa’s first Olympic champion at Munich 1972.

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The IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards is an annual event honouring the work of coaches who have gone above and beyond to develop and nurture athletes in the Olympic spirit.

The award is delivered by the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission to celebrate one male and one female coach.

Arnold received his award, alongside German artistic gymnastic coach Ulla Koch during a ceremony held at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach and members of the IOC Athletes’ and Athletes’ Entourage Commissions.

Bach, himself an Olympic fencing champion, said: “This is a recognition of the fundamental role that these coaches had on generations of athletes, inspiring them with the Olympic values and helping them realise their dreams. I know from my own experience the fundamental role coaches play in a career of an athlete.”

Legendary Russian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, chair of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission, and Olympic champion in 1988 said: “The quality of the relationship athletes have with their coaches is crucial for them.

“When we launched this award three years ago, we wanted to put a spotlight on the coaches’ role, on and off the field of play.

“I warmly congratulate Malcolm and Ulla as I think they perfectly embody the values that our commission is promoting, and I am sure their work will inspire many other coaches.”

Arnold and Koch were selected from a pool of coaches nominated by Olympians, International Federations, National Olympic Committees, members of the IOC Athletes’ and Athletes’ Entourage Commissions and IOC Members.