Paula Dunn is the current Head Coach for Para Athletics at UK Athletics, the national governing body for the sport in the United Kingdom. Here are the key details about her role and background:
Paula Dunn Career
Head Coach for Para Athletics
- Dunn was appointed as the Paralympic Head Coach at UK Athletics in 2012, replacing Peter Eriksson.
- She is the first female head coach appointed by UK Athletics.
- In this role, she oversees the training and development of British para-athletes across various disciplines, including track and field events.
Previous Roles at UK Athletics
- Dunn began working for UK Athletics in 2001.
- Prior to becoming the Paralympic Head Coach, she served as the Paralympic Performance Manager from 2009.
Background as an Athlete
- Dunn was a former sprinter who competed for Great Britain in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay events.
- She represented Great Britain at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, reaching the semi-finals in the 200m.
- Dunn is a five-time Commonwealth Games medalist, winning silver in the 100m (1986) and bronze in the 100m and 4x100m relay (1994).
- Her personal bests of 11.15 seconds in the 100m and 22.69 seconds in the 200m were the fastest times by a British female sprinter in the 1990s.
Honors and Recognition
- Dunn was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for her services to athletics.
- She is credited with leading the British Paralympic team to success at major international events, including the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
With her extensive experience as an elite athlete and her leadership roles within UK Athletics, Paula Dunn has played a pivotal role in guiding and supporting British para-athletes in their pursuit of excellence on the global stage.
Paula Dunn
