John Atkinson

John has a national coaching career (gymnastics) that lasted 43 years, including 30 years spent as a Head Coach of the British men's Artistic team. He coached at three Olympic Games (Moscow 1980, Lost Angeles 1984, and Barcelona 1992), 14 World Championships (from Vara 1974 through Tianjin 1999), and nine European Championships (from 1979 Essen to 1994 Prague). In 1989, John was awarded the MBE by the Queen, for his services to sport and coaching in Great Britain - this being followed in 2001 by the BOA Award for Services to Coaching through the Coaches Steering Group. In 1997, John became President of the FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics Technical Committee until his retirement in 2003. After a life dedicated to the sport of Gymnastics, being part of the Torch Relay would be a fitting tribute to his hard work.