By Tom Degun

October 18 - UK Athletics today appointed Hayley Ginn as apprentice Paralympic coach to help prepare top British athletes, including double Beijing 2008 Paralympic champion David Weir, for the London 2012 Games.


Ginn will be based at UK Athletics' National Performance Centre at Lee Valley where she will specialise in sprints and wheelchair racing.

As well as working closely with Paralympic head coach Peter Eriksson, Ginn will work alongside renowned UK wheelchair racing expert Jenny Archer, who coaches a number of Britain's top London 2012 medal prospects, including Weir.

Ginn joins an existing team of six apprentice coaches appointed earlier this year as part of UKA's long term commitment to the development of a sustainable coaching structure and to develop the athletes across a variety of track-based Paralympic events.

Ginn said: "I'm over the moon to have been offered this amazing opportunity.

Not only will I get to learn from Peter Eriksson as my Master Coach, I will also have the opportunity to work with some great coaches including Jenny Archer.

"This role will enable me to further enhance my skills, and coupled with my passion and enthusiasm for coaching will enable me to continue along the pathway towards becoming a world class coach.

"I'm really looking forward to being part of such a strong team of apprentice coaches."

Eriksson said: "This is only the second position of its kind within the Paralympic Movement in the UK and it's a step in the right direction.

"The fact that Hayley will be working across Olympic and Paralympic performance is evidence of our commitment to full integration and further establishes us as a world leading country in the sport."

Kevin Tyler, UK Athletics' Strategic Head of Coaching and Development, added: "We've continually reinforced the point that while we must work efficiently through to 2012, it's increasingly vital that we serve the sport beyond then through the creation of a coaching legacy.

"Apprentice coaches will learn the trade from the world class coaches already in our system and will be well placed to step up and deliver post-2012."

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