Welsh sprint star Christian Malcolm loses UK Athletics role

Malcolm, the first black coach to take the role, was appointed in September 2020 and will hold talks with UKA over other opportunities.

“I am very disappointed to hear about the news but understand the rationale around this decision,” he said.

“My priority now is to continue working in the same way, maintaining professionalism and doing my job throughout the summer. I am fully focused on supporting our athletes and coaches, during this extremely busy summer for our sport.

“We have some incredibly talented athletes – some of whom have ambitious aims to compete across three major championships this summer.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them compete and supporting those individuals towards the World and European Championships, as well as representing their home nations during the Commonwealth Games.”

Review

The plans have been part of an ongoing strategy review with UK Sport and will come into force from September.

There will be increased levels of support and engagement with athletes on the World Class Performance programme and a significant increase in financial investment in the personal coaches of the athletes on the WCP.

There will also be new event leadership appointments to work alongside the WCP head of sprints and relays and WCP endurance performance manager.

UKA is also close to finalising the appointment of its new technical director with a view to them starting in September.

Malcolm competed in four Commonwealth Games for Wales and missed out becoming the first Welsh athlete to appear in five when injury cost him selection for the Glasgow games in 2014.

He also appeared in three Olympic games, sharing with Colin Jackson the record number of appearances by a Welshman.

He was inducted into the Welsh Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016