Olympics star Yvonne is new athletics chief

Dec 17 2008 by Robert Mitchell, Wishaw Press

ATHLETES from North Lanarkshire will benefit first hand from one of Scotland’s greatest runners following the appointment of Yvonne Murray to North Lanarkshire Leisure.

The Olympic track medallist has taken up her new role as Senior Athletics Development and Events Officer – and she will be responsible for nurturing athletes of the future as well as passing on her expertise to some of North Lanarkshire’s elite performers.

Yvonne said: “I’m so pleased that I am able to continue to work in athletics, which I am passionate about.

“It’s a fantastic time to be involved in sport, with the International Children’s Games coming to Lanarkshire in 2011, as well as the 2012 Olympic Games in London and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“I’ll be working with children at grass roots level right through to elite level, helping them to achieve their ambitions within the sport. I’m also being tasked with arranging and bringing sporting events to North Lanarkshire.

“I’ve already started work on encouraging other countries to use our facilities as pre-Games training camps for the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games. I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Councillor Jim McCabe, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “As an athlete, Yvonne was an inspirational figure and she will continue to inspire and support athletes in her new role. It’s great news for sport in North Lanarkshire.”

Some of Yvonne’s achievements included winning the 3000m bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Edinburgh. She then went on to win the bronze medal at the European Championships for the same event in the same year.

In 1987, she was European indoor champion at 3000m and in the 1988 Seoul Olympics she also won a bronze medal for the 3000m.