New UK Athletics chief Peter Eriksson eyes Rio improvement
Swede to take reins from outgoing van Commenee
Monday 29 October 2012
Printable
EmailAthletics: UK Athletics appointed Swede Peter Eriksson as their new Olympic head coach today.
Eriksson will move immediately from his role as UKA Paralympic head coach to succeed the outgoing Charles van Commenee, who will officially step down when his contract expires in December.
Van Commenee opted to walk away, despite a hugely successful four-year spell, when Team GB failed to achieve his target of eight medals at the London 2012.
Britain’s haul of six medals, four of which were golds, still represented a successful tenure for the Dutchman, however, and van Commenee leaves massive shoes for Eriksson to fill.
The 59-year-old does have pedigree, having led Britain’s Paralympic athletes to 29 medals at the London Games, 11 of which were gold.
He said: “The Olympic team performed very well in London, finishing fourth in the world with four golds, so I have a great platform on which to build.
“But I believe we can still do better in Rio 2016 and of course when the World Championships take place in the London Olympic Stadium in 2017.”
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