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LBU Honorary Graduate Dr Malcolm Brown MBE wins IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award
The prize is awarded annually to one male and one female coach for their outstanding contributions to Olympians’ lives and to the Olympic Movement.
Malcolm, who worked at Leeds Beckett University as its Director of Sport from 2002-2009, helped spearhead an incredibly successful sporting period for the university, and become a co-founder of Triathlon Leeds.
Under his leadership Leeds Beckett improved in the British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) league tables from 28th to second in just five years
Malcolm also played a major role in the University working in conjunction with National governing bodies of sport to create High Performance Centres in Triathlon, Athletics and Weightlifting, and had a major part in the University securing the designation of the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence in 2008.
During his time at Leeds Beckett Malcolm began to coach fellow Leeds Beckett Honorary Graduates, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee from the dawn of their careers, as well as guiding Vicky Holland to become the first female triathlete in history to win an Olympic medal for Team GB.
Before moving into triathlon, Malcolm spent 25 years coaching endurance runners, working with the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe, and in 2013 was awarded an MBE for services to triathlon and sport.
Malcolm was nominated for IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award by Leeds Beckett University Honorary Graduate Jonny Brownlee.
Malcolm Brown said: "It is a fantastic honour to receive the IOC Lifetime Achievement Coaches Award. My sincere thanks go to the IOC for the Award, to Jonny Brownlee for the nomination, to my family for the many years of unswerving support, to numerous individuals, and organisations, who facilitated my coaching and finally, to all the athletes who entrusted me with their sporting careers.
“Achieving Olympic success requires more than training, skill, science and technique. It requires belief and trust. It has been a privilege to receive that trust. I am pleased to report that the sport of triathlon in the UK continues to develop and remains in great shape as it prepares to meet with our competitors and colleagues in Paris 2024."
Jonny Brownlee said: “I nominated Malc because he has been the biggest influence on my career, and I think there will be a lot of people that would say the same.
“I will never forget those early years when Malc coached from the side of the track still wearing his suit from work, stopwatch in one hand and umbrella in the other. Malc was always there to give me words of wisdom whenever I needed it. After spending half an hour with him I believed I could win any race. I am delighted he is being recognised with this award – he deserves it!”
Sally Griffiths, Director of Sport & Active Lifestyles, said: “Many congratulations to Malcolm on his incredibly deserved prestigious award.
“Malcolm has been incredibly influential in the world of triathlon, helping to establish the Triathlon Leeds as one of its co-founders and coaching Alistair and Jonny Brownlee to incredible success.
“Malcolm is still held in incredibly high regard at the university for his work as its Director of Sport, as well as his achievements at Olympic and International level.”