Keith Connor

Keith Connor
Personal information
Born (1957-09-16) 16 September 1957
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
1984 Los Angeles Triple jump

Keith Leroy Connor (born 16 September 1957 in Anguilla, West Indies) migrated with his parents to Great Britain in 1964. He went on to represent Great Britain as an athlete who mainly competed in the triple jump. Winning gold medals at the 1978 & 1982 Commonwealth Games, 1982 European Athletics Championships and bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Connor attended the University of Texas at El Paso in the USA from 1978–80 and later transferred the Southern Methodist University (SMU) where he competed with distinction in the US national collegiate (NCAA). .

He retired from active competition in 1984 due to injury and began an illustrious career as a coach and sports administrator. Connor was appointed head coach at the New South Wales Institute of Sport in 1990, after spending several years coaching on the American college scene following his retirement from competition. He was credited with helping Australian athletes to win medals at the Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Olympics due to his work in revamping the New South Wales Institute of Sport. Following his successes at NSW Institute of Sport, Connor was given the appointed as head coach of Athletics Australia in 2001.

The Australian press has described him, admiringly, as a hard-nosed disciplinarian. Herb Elliott, chairman of an Australian Sports Commission review of the sport, said: "There is a view that he has moved the sport forward. "He's had to take some very tough action. As a consequence, he's rubbed a few people up the wrong way and some are against him… but he's done an excellent job." In 2006 Keith was turned down for the job of Head Coach to British Athletics Board although he was regarded by most as the best candidate. This was his second rejection by BAB the first being in 1990. Allegations of racism surrounded his rejection.

Since the expiration of his contract in 2006 Keith has been a Sport Consultant to national associations, sporting bodies, sponsors and individuals.

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  United Kingdom
1978 Commonwealth Games Edmonton, Canada 1st Triple jump 17.21 m w
1982 European Championships Athens, Greece 1st Triple jump 17.29 m
Commonwealth Games Brisbane, Australia 1st Triple jump 17.81 m w
1983 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 15th (q) Triple Jump 16.18 m
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 3rd Triple jump 16.87 m

References


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