Marlon Devonish on guiding the next generation
As the UK's most decorated male sprinter, Marlon Devonish is sure to have inspired many with his achievements, but the 44-year-old continues to have an impact within the sporting world as he now helps to guide the next generation.
After officially retiring from athletics in 2013 with an Olympic relay title, world indoor gold and multiple world, European and Commonwealth medals to his name, the Coventry athlete started a speed consultancy where he worked with the likes of QPR Football Club and Gloucester Rugby. From there he moved into business coaching and for the past three years he has combined both skillsets in his role as elite athlete high performance coach at the British International School Shanghai in China.
Being able to offer a real-life perspective has been key, he explains, and he relishes being in a position where his knowledge and experiences can be used to prove the power of sport.
“It’s about how to be resilient, have confidence, deal with setbacks and all those different things,” Devonish explains. “The importance of sport and how it can affect your academic studies, as well. You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to do a sport but in being involved in sport, it’s so good for your wellbeing, your studies and giving you that positive diversion.
“Having the opportunity to be completely focused on your volleyball, basketball, football or whatever it might be that’s on the curriculum and not worry about the academic studies and then going back to it with a clear head. Learning that at a young age is so important, especially when you’ve got a situation like we are in at the moment with the pandemic.
“If they don’t want to be involved in sport because they are self-conscious and they have anxiety around that, if they think ‘I’m not good at sport, I don’t want to let anyone down and fail’, it is about trying to move away from that,” he continues. “Planting those seeds of failure being healthy – it is a good thing, it is how you get better. You fail and you learn. Those are the kind of things that I like to talk about.”
"Planting those seeds of failure being healthy – it is a good thing, it is how you get better. You fail and you learn"
Devonish had a long and successful career but was not without his own setbacks and on using his experiences, he adds: “I competed for 20 years and in 16 years I went to every major championship and got 18 medals across those 16 years. It would have been impossible for me to have been on my top game for those 16 years straight and still get to the major championships.
“I have had my injuries and I’ve had my personal problems, like everybody else, but I still managed to find the high performance. So I do have a natural disposition to be able to find the high performance and understand how to get there, despite what’s going on.
“There’s no question when it comes to high performance and being a high performer because I have done it not just once but over 16 years. I tap into those 16 years of experience and give the kids real life stories, including some of the athletes that have just retired, like Usain Bolt. They are like, ‘you know Usain Bolt? You competed against him? Wow!’ You have got them really, then, and they are inspired.
“I am in my fourth year here now and it is brilliant. I have a fantastic PE department around me which allows me to share my skills and knowledge.”
Lead photo by Mark Shearman
» Visit bisspuxi.com to view a video of Marlon Devonish at the British International School Shanghai where he develops a love of sport within all the students and helps the school’s best athletes reach their full potential
» See the February edition of AW magazine for more from an interview with Marlon Devonish
» For more on the latest athletics news, athletics events coverage and athletics updates, check out the AW homepage and our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
