Athletics coach Graham helps sprinter Ola Abidogun win Commonwealth bronze

Pictured: Graham middle and Ola right

LJMU’s Head of Capital Development, Graham Pilkington, was in Birmingham earlier this week as he watched one of his athletes, Ola Abidogun, win bronze in the T45-T47 100m.

Alongside his role at LJMU, Graham is a Northwest Performance Speed Coach & International Team Manager plus British Athletics Disability Coach & England Athletics Lead Coach for Speed in the North.

He’s been working with Ola for the past 10 months, who ran a season’s best time at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games earning him a place on the podium.

Graham will continue to work with Ola as they hunt further medals at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris next year.

Graham has been involved in coaching for 28 years and disability coaching for nearly 20 years.  

“I am immensely proud in how far Ola has come since overcoming injury at the end of last season,” said Graham. “I know what we need to work on, but let’s bask in a bit of the good times and then get ready to kick on again for next season with the aim for even better results.”

We’re immensely proud of Graham for his hard work and dedication aside from his day job!