03 / 10 / 2012
Sharon Hannan, coach to the Queen of Hurdles Sally Pearson, presents in Glasgow.
The year 2012 has been an exciting year for sport and athletics with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the European Championships in Athletics. IFAC will prove to be just as exciting with an array of coaching talent presenting at this year’s conference.
Sharon Hannan is the long term coach to Sally Pearson, Australia’s golden girl from London 2012. Pearson (née McLellan) was first spotted by Hannan as a 12 year old and the pair have been working together ever since. Hannan has carefully developed Pearson’s talent as a young teenager and it is Hannan who has been the driving force behind the development of the newly crowned Olympic Champion.
Beijing provided Pearson with a ‘surprise silver’ and it was from that moment that Hannan and Pearson plotted their journey to London. With the Commonwealth, World and World Indoor titles safely under her belt Pearson was the overwhelming favourite to take the 100m Hurdles Final in London.
It was a wet evening in London for the Olympic final of the Women’s 100m Hurdles, and a tense moment for Sharon Hannan as she watched from the finish line of the 80,000 capacity-filled Olympic Stadium. Shinning in the dark and rainy night, Pearson crossed the finish line unaware that she had edged out the 2008 Olympic Champion. When the result was announced in a new Olympic Record time Pearson fell to the ground with joy, then made her way to wall of Australian yellow tops to find and embrace her coach Sharon Hannan at the sidelines. It was a proud and joyous occasion for the duo!
Hannan will be headlining at the 2012 edition of IFAC on 26-28 October, and will be presenting her keynote presentation on Saturday 27 October entitled “Beyond Limits.” Hannan will also lead a seminar and two practical workshops on sprint hurdles with another seminar on “Coaching Female Athletes: the Toughest Job in Sport.”
There is still time to register for IFAC 2012. You can book your place by downloading a booking form by clicking here.
