Talented Athlete and Coach Pathway
England Athletics works to grow opportunities for everyone to experience athletics and running, to enable them to reach their full potential.
The Talented Athlete and Coach Pathway provides a progressive support structure for athletes and coaches to develop skills and competencies with the aim of moving athletes on to representative honours at England and GB Level.
From school into club athletics and parallel support through the pathway programmes, the aim is to ensure the journey of the athlete and coach reaches its full potential. Athletics is an inclusive and diverse sport that provides excitement, challenge and lifelong enjoyment. Supporting talented individuals and the wider athletics club community through pathway programmes and talent hubs is the vision.
Olympic and Paralympic talent pathway
The below diagram illustrates the athlete pathway from national age group to Olympic and World Championship level.
- Learn more about the Paralympic Talent Programme
Talent pathway staff
Youth Talent Programme Manager
Alan Richardson arichardson@englandathletics.org 07586 496274
Event Group Leads
- Speed: Shani Palmer spalmer@englandathletics.org
- Endurance: Spencer Duval sduval@englandathletics.org
- Jumps and Combined Events: Darren Ritchie dritchie@englandathletics.org
- Throws: Nick Ridgeon nridgeon@englandathletics.org
Talent Event Leads
- Shot: Stuart Carlaw
- Discus: Mark Chapman
- Hammer: Paul Head
- Javelin: David Turner
- High Jump: Denis Doyle
- Pole Vault: Scott Simpson
- Horizontal Jumps: Aston Moore, Frank Attoh
- Combined Events: Rafer Joseph
- Endurance: Kyle Bennett, Jo Wilkinson, Darren Reevell
YTP coaches
- Shot: Garry Power (London), Stuart Carlaw (Loughborough)
- Discus: Mark Chapman (London), Shadine Duquemin (Loughborough)
- Hammer: Paul Head (London), Rob Careless (Loughborough)
- Javelin: Alison O’Riordan (London), David Turner (Loughborough)
- High Jump: Julian Reid (Birmingham), Denis Doyle / Julian Machin (London), Deirdre Elmhirst / Simon Phelan (Loughborough)
- Pole Vault: Allan Williams (London), Kate Rooney (Loughborough)
- Long Jump: Jade Surman (Birmingham), John Shepherd / Denis Costello (London), Lukasz Zawila (Loughborough)
- Triple Jump: Jade Surman (Birmingham), Guy Spencer (London), Lukasz Zawila (Loughborough)
- Combined Events: Darren Hatton (London), David Feeney (Loughborough)
- Endurance: Kieran Hall / Andi Drake (Leeds), Dean Miller / Matt Long / Andy Heyes (Birmingham), Jo Wilkinson / Richard Pickering (London and Loughborough)
Find out more
Visit the links below to find out more about the Youth, Junior and Senior and Paralympic Talent Programmes.
Senior Programme
Aiming to support athletes and their coaches who are targeting representative vests at a Senior England level.
Youth Talent Programme
Part of the talent to performance pathway designed to meet the needs of identified, talented English athletes aged 16-18.
Junior Talent Programme
Part of the talent to performance pathway designed to meet the needs of identified, talented English athletes aged 18-21.
Paralympic Talent Programme
Aiming to support para-athletes progressing towards selection for the international senior team.