John Anderson (TV personality)

This article is about the British TV personality. For the American journalist, see John Anderson (sportscaster).
John Anderson
Nationality United Kingdom
Occupation Sports Coach (ongoing)
TV Personality (Retired)
Referee (retired)
Teacher (retired)
Known for Referee on Gladiators and Gladiators (new series)

John Anderson (born 28 November 1931)[1] is a former British television personality best known as referee and official trainer on the UK TV show, Gladiators.[2] He has previously worked as a teacher and as a coach for Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games athletes, including Commonwealth Games champion and former World Record Holder David Moorcroft.[3] His involvement with David started in 1966. It was a partnership which would lead to a world record for 5000m in 1982 and even a vets world record for the Mile of 4:02 in 1993.[4] John was National Coach for the Amateur Athletics Association of England and subsequently the first full time National Coach in Scotland (1965-1970). He was coach to an Olympian at every Olympics from 1964 to 2000 and has coached 5 world record holders and 170 GB Internationals in every event.[5]

In 2008, Anderson briefly resumed his role as referee on the newly revived Gladiators before being replaced by John Coyle after just one series. [6] Anderson went on to become mentor and coach for a number of recent international athletes, including Great British athlete William Sharman, who he helped transform from a decathlete to a world class sprint hurdler,[7] and continues to coach at a local and regional level.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "John Anderson". Anent Scottish Running (Scotland). Dec 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.gladiatorszone.co.uk/gladiators/new/cast/index.php#anderson
  3. ↑ http://www.uka.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/dave-moorcroft/
  4. ↑ http://www.britishmilersclub.com/bmcnews/1999spring.pdf
  5. ↑ http://ucoach.com/audio/british-coaching-legends-john-anderson-part-1/
  6. ↑ Holmwood, Leigh (26 November 2008). "Six new Gladiators unveiled - as Wolf returns and ref Anderson bows out". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  7. ↑ Turnbull, Simon (30 August 2009). "Meet Britain's bolt from the blue". The Independent (London).
  8. ↑ http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=201273; Anderson currently coaches Lucy Hatton and Charlie Eastaugh.