Athletics Canada names Glenroy Gilbert head coach, Nathan high performance director

Canada's-Glenroy-Gilbert-waves-to-the-crowd-following-the-men's-4-X-100-metre-semi-final-at-the-World-Track-and-Field-Championships-in-Edmonton-Sunday-Aug.-12,-2001.-Canada-finished-the-semi-final-in-sixth-place-and-failed-to-advance-to-the-final.-(Kevin-Frayer/CP)

Canada's Glenroy Gilbert waves to the crowd following the men's 4 X 100-metre semi-final at the World Track and Field Championships in Edmonton Sunday Aug. 12, 2001. Canada finished the semi-final in sixth place and failed to advance to the final. (Kevin Frayer/CP)

OTTAWA — Former Olympian Glenroy Gilbert was named the new head coach for Athletics Canada on Tuesday after holding the position in the interim for nearly two months.

Gilbert was chosen as Canada’s head coach for the world track and field championships on May 19, replacing Peter Eriksson who had been fired in December.

Athletics Canada also announced on Tuesday that Simon Nathan will soon begin in the role of high performance director.

"I look forward to this new opportunity as we continue to grow the sport domestically and internationally," said Gilbert. "Alongside Simon, we are committed to elevating our status worldwide."

Gilbert, an Ottawa native, ran on the Canadian 4×100-metre relay team that won Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996. He’s worked with Canada’s relay program for several years.

Gilbert coached the men’s 4×100-metre relay team to a bronze medal at the 2015 IAAF World Championships and at the 2016 Olympic Games. Also in Rio, he led the women’s 4×400-metre relay team to a fourth-place finish, and the women’s 4×100-metre relay team to a seventh-place finish.

From 2006 to 2014 he was Athletics Canada’s lead relay coach, in 2014-2015 he worked with the Canadian Paralympic Committee in the position of senior co-ordinator, high performance and Games enhancements. As a coach, he has attended four Olympic Games and seven World Championships.

Nathan will officially begin in his new role in September, but will start immediately in an observational role.

"I want to take full advantage of the opportunity to watch the Canadian teams prepare for and compete at the World Para Athletics Championships, and then IAAF World Championships in London."

Nathan held the position of high performance director with Athletics Australia from 2013 to 2016. From 2003 to 2013 he held various roles with UK Athletics, including head of performance operations from 2009 to 2013.

The 2017 World Para Athletics Championships run July 14 to 23 in London, England. The 2017 IAAF World Championships, also taking place in London, begin Aug. 4 and end Aug. 13.

[relatedlinks]

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.