New documentary joins former world and European champion Tom McKean as he takes the primary steps on his teaching journey
Tom McKean’s athletics profession introduced medals on the highest degree, in addition to numerous life classes. Now the previous world indoor 800m champion is aiming to move on his wealth of data to the subsequent technology of athletes as takes his first steps as a coach.
Following a prolonged profession within the police after hanging up his spikes, McKean has returned to his roots at Motherwell AC and the story of his transfer, in addition to the membership’s method to teaching, has been captured in a brand new documentary commissioned by Scottish Athletics entitled Giving Again to Observe – Tom McKean (Motherwell AC).
On the observe, McKean was on the forefront of world center distance operating, famously battling with the likes of Seb Coe and Steve Cram on the largest phases. Along with that world indoor crown from 1993, he was additionally the European champion each indoors and out in 1990, in addition to profitable Commonwealth silver in 1986.
“I retired 18 months in the past and I used to be operating with my spouse at Motherwell AC they usually mentioned: ‘Effectively, why don’t you begin teaching once more? We’d like to have you ever at Motherwell AC’,” says the two-time Olympian.
“The partnership rapidly advanced and really rapidly they received me hooked they usually wouldn’t let me go. Being a coach, I’m making an attempt to create goals, ambitions and objectives for younger folks. To set them on their means in life.
“Life is hard for youths and they should take care of pleasure, disappointment, underachieving, over-achieving and I feel we give them that in a protected setting.
“We give them periods and, whether or not they win or fail, we all the time discover a optimistic with it. Hopefully the youngsters take it with them to the surface world. I can see that the extra I put in, the extra they’re giving me again.
“If I can get their goals and aspirations and provides them some motivation to succeed on their very own and the need to be a greater particular person then I really feel I’ve carried out an excellent job. It’s not nearly profitable and shedding, it’s about instilling values into these younger folks they’ll take with them daily of their lives.”
Coe, McKean and Cram in 1986 (Mark Shearman)
One of the memorable moments of McKean’s got here on the 1986 European Championships, the place he got here second in an excellent contest with eventual champion Coe and bronze medallist Cram. Within the movie, the now 61-year-old cites this instance as an essential reminder that profitable isn’t every thing.
“My recommendation is: for those who give 100 per cent then you possibly can stroll off a observe, or stroll off a cross nation race, or stroll off a coaching session and say: ‘I’ve carried out the perfect I can’,” he says.
“Then, to me, you possibly can’t ask for any extra. As soon as I ran within the closing of the European Championships and I completed second. However I couldn’t have carried out something higher.
“I couldn’t have run any faster, I couldn’t have been in higher positions. I completed second as a result of Seb Coe beat me on the road. However I had given 100 per cent and may have been pleased with the consequence – and I was pleased with the consequence.”
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