Another Gold for ASPIRE

Olympian Said Aouita, who won the 5,000m Gold in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics has been brought on board to assist and advise ASPIRE's coaches in the development of the academy's high-performance sports training programmes.

The five times world record holding distance runner also won World Championship Gold in both 3,000m and 5,000m during his illustrious career on the track.

His experience of athletics at the highest level of competition provides a unique opportunity for the aspiring student athletes of ASPIRE, who will benefit from a true master of distance running in their training and development to succeed at the highest level themselves.

The inspirational athlete already has a close relationship with the academy, following the opening of the ASPIRE sports dome, when he joined a host of international sporting legends to showcase ASPIRE to the world.

Said Aouita said: "When I first came to ASPIRE, I was immediately convinced by the academy's vision to create the best opportunities for the most talented children. The highest academic and sporting standards along with superb facilities provide an ideal environment for success and I am pleased to be able to pass on my experience to the next generation of potential champions.

"Having been with the academy for just a short time, my immediate priority is to make sure that we all work together to encourage our athletes to achieve the highest levels of performance and bring long-term success."

The positive appraisal of ASPIRE from a former world record holder and Olympic champion adds to the international list of plaudits received by the Academy since its launch in 2004.

Dr. Thomas Flock, Director General of ASPIRE, said: "High performance sport demands excellence at every level, and ASPIRE is serious about recruiting the world's best coaches to help us achieve our goals. Said Aouita is a world-class talent, an inspirational athlete and we are confident that with his considerable knowledge and experience, our athletes will have the very best opportunities to succeed."