Nigel Laughton insists he can’t wait to get going on the road to Rio after being named as Pentathlon GB’s new chief executive officer.
Laughton joins following three years as British Skeleton’s performance director, during which time he helped Lizzy Yarnold strike gold at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in his role as Team GB’s Team Leader for skeleton in Russia.
His 17 years of experience in elite sport has also included spells as national academy manager of the England and Wales Cricket Board and three seasons as rugby operations director at Bath Rugby.
London 2012 silver medallist Samantha Murray was crowned as modern pentathlon world champion in Warsaw earlier this month, underlining Britain’s success in the sport with less than two years until Rio 2016.
And Laughton is looking forward to helping his new squad prepare for one of the main opportunities for Olympic qualification at the 2015 European Championships hosted by the University of Bath next August.
“I am honoured to have been offered this incredible opportunity to lead Pentathlon GB in the lead-up to Rio 2016 and beyond,” he said.
“I look forward to working with both the development and performance staff, in Bath and across Great Britain, to fulfil the ambitious strategic goals of the association.
“With an Olympic qualifying championship in Bath next summer, we have a great chance to showcase the facilities at the University of Bath, which is home to our National Training Centre, and for our athletes to perform on home soil in front of big audiences and crowds.
“Building on the Olympic medal successes since 2000 and continued support from UK Sport, Sport England, Home Nations, other partners and sponsors, Pentathlon GB is a very exciting organisation to be joining.“
© Sportsbeat 2014