Steve Lumley - Triathlon Coach
Steve has been a triathlete since 1989, an 'Ironman' since 1991 and a coach since 1994. A professional triathlon coach for twelve years, he has coached national youth, junior, student, elite and age group medal winners. He is the UK's most experienced and knowledgeable 'Ironman' triathlon coach having competed in 29 outings over the distance to date himself (including three trips to Hawaii) and coached athletes to something over 250 IM finishes. These have ranged from novice to elite and include several Hawaii world championship qualifications.
He was appointed head coach to the Triathlon team at Birmingham University in 2000. In 2001 he set up the regional 'World Class' programme, based at Birmingham, and currently runs the world class 'satellite centre', Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme triathlon programme and West Midlands Triathlon Academy from there. He works on a daily basis with talented elite, youth, junior, and student athletes, many of who have made national team selection. He is British Triathlons' longest serving coach educator and assessor, having been involved in the delivery of all levels of coach education courses and the assessment of coaches for awards for 10 years
Successful coaches have a philosophy that guides and informs what they do. Steve has a pragmatic philosophy built around the idea of long-term athlete development and knows that the successful coaching of athletes is based on building lasting relationships, hard work and attention to detail. Coaching is not something that happens to an athlete, but is something done in partnership with the athlete. It is working closely and in cooperation with athletes to define and refine their goals and teach them how to achieve them. Coaching requires that the athlete takes responsibility for their development, and empowers them to do so.
Commitment is as important to success as talent. The talent we are given is not a choice but making the most of what we have is. Winning trophies and medals is a nice bonus but the real reward to an athlete is this process, the journey. The real reward and success of coaching is finding and delivering whatever it takes to help athletes reach their potential.