NEWS

Edmonton Triathlon Academy Appoints Inaugral Coach

By Fergus Murray | 20 Jan, 2010

Scottish International Triathlete Recruited from Hong Kong as Edmonton Inaugral Coach.

Edmonton Triathlon Academy (ETA), the organisation resulting from a decade of hosting successful ITU events is ready to launch its training Centre with the announcement of the new coach Kevin Clark.
“Kevin will arrive in Edmonton at the beginning of March to develop the Academy plans under the guidance of a professional sport experienced board,” said Brian Hetherington, the ETA’s board communications director.

Clark, A native of Kilmarnock, Scotland, has coached swimming and triathlon for ten years, partially while he was competing on the international triathlon circuit.  He ended his own competitive career in 2006, when offered the position of Assistant Triathlon Coach with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, with the specific responsibility for the U-23 squad.  As the holder of an ITU Level 2 coaching certificate, he has a successful track record as the sport development coach for Hong Kong.

“The Board of Directors of the 2001 Edmonton ITU World Championships and subsequent World Cups must be commended for their commitment to a sport legacy that will truly be athlete development focused”
ITU Secretary General,
Loreen Barnett

Arrangements have already been made to use the Kinsmen Sports Centre as the training hub and relationships are being fostered with the Athletics department of the University of Alberta to create mutually beneficial programs.

After being offered the new post, Clark described it as “an unbelievable opportunity – to be able to start something from scratch, rather than fixing existing problems.”

While Clark will arrive in Edmonton at the beginning of March, it is not anticipated that he will begin formal Academy training sessions until the beginning of June. His initial weeks in Edmonton will be spent in becoming acquainted with the facilities, meeting related coaches and administrators, organizing small participatory events, such as aquathlons, and commencing the recruitment of the initial Academy athletes.
He will return to his native Scotland in May to be married to his German-born fiancée, Saskia, who will then join him in Edmonton.

“The Board of Directors of the 2001 Edmonton ITU World Championships and subsequent World Cups must be commended for their commitment to a sport legacy that will truly be athlete development focused” says ITU’s Secretary General, Loreen Barnett.