User:TrulyBlue/Spracklen

Mike Spracklen (born September 15, 1937 in Harlow, Essex, England) is an international rowing coach who has led teams from Great Britain, USA and Canada to success at the Olympic games and Rowing World Championships, including the early Olympic successes of Steven Redgrave. In 2002 he was named the International Rowing Federation coach of the year.

Spracklen was also part of the coaching team that brought Oxford University success in the annual Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Mike's son Adrian is a former British international lightweight oarsman and now coaches rowing at Mercyhurst College, Pennsylvania.

Career
Spracklen first became a full time professional coach in 1984, following his success in coaching the Great Britain coxed four to victory at the Los Angeles Olympics. From that crew he took Steve Redgrave and Andy Holmes to a further Olympic gold in the coxless pair (and bronze in the coxed pair) in 1988, before moving to Canada as head coach in 1989. The Canadian men's eight took gold at the 1992 Olympics under his tutelage, and Spracklen moved on to coach the USA squad. After a disappointing finishing position of fifth in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic eights, he returned to Great Britain as the Women's national coach.

In 1998 the British women achieved their first Gold at a World Championship, in the double sculls. After the 2000 Olympics, where the British women took silver in the quadruple four, Spracklen's contract was not renewed, with the BBC reporting discontent in the squad over his methods.

Since 2000 Spracklen has been coaching the Canadian men's squad, winning the Gold medal for eights at the 2002, 2003 and 2007 World Championships.

Coaching Style
Spracklen's coaching revolves around finding a balance between the factors that affect the speed of the boat: Power (the effort per stroke), Length of Stroke, and Rate (number of strokes taken each minute).

Honours

 * 1998 UK and England Coach of the Year by the National Coaching Foundation
 * 2004 Spirit of Sport Foundation coach of the year
 * 2007 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award