The Western Australian Institute of
Sport is pleased to announce that its former throws coach Grant Ward has been
appointed to the role of WAIS Athletics Performance Manager.
The newly created position, which is
part of a strategic alignment between WAIS, Athletics WA and Athletics
Australia, will see Ward working closely with partners across all levels of the
sport’s high performance system to help attain peak performance outcomes for WA
track and field talent.
He is well respected figure within the
industry, having led javelin thrower Kim Mickle to a World Championship silver
medal in Moscow in 2013, in addition to having been appointed as a team coach
with the Australian Flame at all major competition levels.
WAIS Performance Team Director –
Podium, Jo Richards said Ward would bring a strong local knowledge of the sport
along with great passion for its purpose.
“We are thrilled for Grant that he has
acquired the role after the WAIS throwing program was closed
recently.Grant brings a high level of experience to the role and together
with the local coaches and the team of dedicated WAIS athletics service providers,
he will help to create a world class athletics environment.
“The Athletics Performance Manager role
will provide best practice advice, system support management to state and
national athletics coaches with the goal of enhancing the performances of Australian
athletes.
“His interactions will be with current
WAIS/NASS scholarship holders and their coaches, as well as working locally in
the WA environment to assist up and coming talent and their coaches, as well as
providing strategic advice to the national system,” Richards said.
Athletics Australia’s Head of
Performance and Coaching – Christian Malcolm said Ward’s appointment would add
to an existing strong partnership between the state institute, state sporting
organisation and the peak national body.
“The recruitment process for the
Athletics Performance Manager at WAIS was thorough and we’re delighted that
Grant will continue to provide an influential role for the sport out in the
west.
“He has not only coached elite talent
at Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games level, but has also
developed an intimate knowledge of the relationship between all partners in the
Athletics Australia high performance landscape.
“He’s highly regarded by coaches and
athletes alike and he’ll bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the
role.
We know that there’s a lot of existing
quality within the WA track and field environment and we look forward to
working closely with Grant, to continue to maximise the state’s contribution
towards Australia’s performance outcomes at development and senior levels,”
Malcolm said.
Ward will begin his role at WAIS on
Monday, 26 August.
