Mike McFarlane: 1960-2023
England Athletics is saddened to hear of the death of Mike McFarlane.
Mike was a sprinter who earned a relay medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics plus represented England at two Commonwealth Games, taking gold in the 200m in Brisbane in 1982 and silver and bronze respectively in the 4x100 relay and 100m four years later in Edinburgh.
As a junior he was coached by the great John Isaacs and was an English Schools’ AA winner. As an international athletes, he won a hat-trick of medals at the 1979 European Junior Championships (in the 200m, relay and 100m). In the latter half of the 1980s he competed and medalled at a number of indoor and outdoor European and World Championships including taking gold at the 1985 event in Athens.
He later became a performance coach for sprints and was heavily involved in coaching the 2012 women’s sprint relay team. London-based, he was still actively coaching a number of high ranking and upcoming athletes up to his untimely death. He coached a number of female sprinters to success including Desiree Henry, Jodie Williams and Finette Agyepong. He was also a motivational speaker helping to develop young people.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends, athletes and fellow coaches.
Mike’s family have confirmed they will be provide details of the celebration of his life in due course.