2021’s greatest coaching moment open for public vote

Public call to back greatest coaching moment of 2021

As an extraordinary year full of so many inspiring sporting moments draws to a close, UK Coaching is encouraging the nation to vote for its Great Coaching Moment, to be announced at next month’s UK Coaching Awards.

The Great Coaching Moment Award focuses not only on the material successes of coaches but on how they ground their work in putting people first. And with each of the incredible nominees, their unique connection with their team or athlete sets them apart and typifies what great coaching is all about.

Nominated and judged by an independent panel, this year’s finalists include:

Gareth Southgate – The England national team Head Coach protected and supported his players as they received criticism for choosing to take the knee before international matches. The outstanding leadership shown by Southgate amongst negative rhetoric encapsulated the togetherness he had created amongst his squad.

Jane Figueiredo –Figueiredosupported Tom Daley to a first ever Olympic title. Following the diver’s heartbreak at the Rio Olympics where he was unable to reach the final, Figueiredoopted to pair Daley with new partner Matty Lee at Tokyo 2020 – and gave us one of the most inspirational moments of the entire competition.

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Coaching Team – Head coach Paul Shaw and his backroom staff made history against all odds, with the squad bringing home a first ever Paralympic gold, all the more remarkable given that the team had lost all their funding just a few years before. Yet the coaching staff continued as unpaid volunteers and immortalised themselves as Paralympic champions.

Gaz Choudhry – Choudhry stepped up for his teammates when GB’s wheelchair basketball coach Haj Bhania tested positive for Covid prior to the Toko Paralympics and was unable to travel with the team. Leading the team as player-coach, Choudhry rallied despite circumstances conspiring against them, picking up an unprecedented bronze medal.