Jan Rehula accepts Czech Republic Olympic coaching role

 

Triathlon Australia, October 24, 2014: Triathlon Australia’ National Performance Director Bernard Savage is confident popular coach Jan Rehula will not be lost to the sport in Australia after accepting an Olympic coaching role in his homeland the Czech Republic.

Rehula, the Sydney Olympic triathlon bronze medallist-turned Elite coach, has spent much of his professional life competing and coaching in Australia.

He has accepted a role on the National Triathlon Team for the Czech Republic in charge of the U23 and Elite Team.

PIC: Jan Rehula with Sally Pilbeam, Jack Swift and Anthony Moustakas (bike mechanic)

“Jan has been a very popular member of our National coaching structure based in Victoria in recent years and he will be sadly missed,” Savage said today.

“On behalf of everyone in Triathlon Australia, especially our High Performance team we wish Jan all the very best in his next chapter of his coaching career.

“He was an integral member of our coaching staff at the recent ITU World Championships and we hope to see him back in Australia one day in the future.

“He is very much the Czech Republic’s gain and I’m sure our paths will continue to cross in the years to come.”

Rehula, who has also been an integral part of the VIS and National Talent Academy (NTA) program, said today: “I have loved being involved with so many friendly people, coaches, Triathlon Australia HP staff, athletes and the entire VIS and NTA program.

“It was an exciting experience to guide some genuine talent along the way and be a part of such a quality performance environment.

"My new role on the European continent will create a new opportunity to coach at an Olympic level.

“After coming from the National Coaching position in South Korea to Australia I was seeking a robust High Performance environment and hungry athletes striving for their ultimate best. I found it straight away within my first NTA year.

“The victories of my athletes gave me power, energy and inspiration.

“I have loved the NTA job, the VIS interim coaching as well as the involvement with all the State Development Programs in VIC/TAS/SA; NTA and Runaway Bay Camps and the work with the World Class talent.

“This experience was amazing and I hope I helped to ignite the long term performance determination within the very latest batch of talented athletes.

“I have worked in Australia with great passion and would like to be back in the High Performance sector delivering quality results for green and gold when the time comes.

“I will still keep pursuing my Australian Citizenship status and enriching the Australian athletes’ performances in the new era of globally integrated coaching platform.

“Sharing the Team Spirit at the latest World Championships with the Paratriathlon athletes and seeing the NTA athletes making the statement” at such a benchmark competition was a truly magnificent experience.”

Rehula paid special thanks to Triathlon Australia CEO Anne Gripper, Bernard Savage, Craig Redman, Anne Marie Harrison, Kathryn Periac and the SISA, NTA and Australia’s Elite coaches and TA staff, Jamie Turner, Jono Hall and Harry Brennan for their inspirational leadership, acceptance, friendship and collaborative support over the period of his NTA Coach employment.

Issued on behalf od Triathlon Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Media Manager, 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team
Deputy Media Manager 2016 Australian Olympic Team
Media Manager 2014 Pan Pacs