Mike Spracklen
Encyclopedia
Mike Spracklen is an international rowing
coach who has led teams from Great Britain
, USA, 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 1980s and early 1990s.
Mike's youngest son Adrian is a former British international lightweight oarsman and now coaches rowing at Mercyhurst College
, Pennsylvania
.
It was the first gold since 1948. 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 Seoul in 1988
, before moving to Canada as head coach in 1989 and becoming a full time professional coach.
The Canadian men's eight took gold at the 1992 Olympics
under his tutelage, and Spracklen moved on to coach the USA squad. He inaugurated the rowing venue at the new Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. 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 quad,the first Olympic medal for British women, 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 and at the 2008 Olympics.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
coach who has led teams from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, USA, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to success at the Olympic games
Rowing at the Summer Olympics
Rowing at the Summer Olympics has been part of the competition since the 1900 Summer Olympics. Rowing was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather. Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal...
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 1980s and early 1990s.
Mike's youngest son Adrian is a former British international lightweight oarsman and now coaches rowing at Mercyhurst College
Mercyhurst College
Mercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Career
Spracklen's first major success was in coaching the Great Britain double scull to silver in the Montreal Olympic Games 1976. In 1984 he coached the coxed four to victory at the Los Angeles OlympicsRowing at the Summer Olympics
Rowing at the Summer Olympics has been part of the competition since the 1900 Summer Olympics. Rowing was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather. Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal...
It was the first gold since 1948. From that crew he took Steve Redgrave and Andy Holmes
Andy Holmes
Andrew Jeremy Holmes MBE was a British rower.Holmes was born in Uxbridge, Greater London, and was educated at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, where he was coached by Olympic rowing silver medallist Jim Clark. After leaving school, he rowed for Kingston Rowing Club and then...
to a further Olympic gold in the coxless pair (and bronze in the coxed pair) in Seoul in 1988
Rowing at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul featured 14 events in total, for men and women, held on the Han River Regatta Course.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-See also:*Rowing at the Summer Olympics*Olympic medalists in rowing...
, before moving to Canada as head coach in 1989 and becoming a full time professional coach.
The Canadian men's eight took gold at the 1992 Olympics
Rowing at the 1992 Summer Olympics
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 14 events in rowing were contested, eight for men and six for women.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-See also:*Rowing at the Summer Olympics*List of Olympic medalists in rowing...
under his tutelage, and Spracklen moved on to coach the USA squad. He inaugurated the rowing venue at the new Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. After a disappointing finishing position of fifth in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic
Rowing at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Taking place at Lake Lanier, Georgia, United States, the 1996 Summer Olympics saw the debut of lightweight rowing events. The three included replaced the remaining coxed events for men and the Women's Coxless Four...
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
Rowing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Rowing events at the 2000 Summer Olympics:The event is probably most noted for Steve Redgrave's winning his fifth Olympic gold medal in as many games in the British men's coxless four. However, there were a number of other dramatic races. Both the men's and women's single...
, where the British women took silver in the quad,the first Olympic medal for British women, 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 and at the 2008 Olympics.
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, Rate (number of strokes taken each minute) and Technique.Coaching titles
| Year | Championship | Event | Nation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Olympics | Mens double sculls | Great Britain | Silver |
| 1977 | World Championships | Mens double scull | Great Britain | Gold |
| 1978 | World Championships | Mens double scull | Great Britain | Silver |
| 1984 | Olympics | Men's Coxed Four | Great Britain | Gold |
| 1985 | World Championship | Men's coxless pair | Great Britain | Silver |
| 1986 | World Championships | Mens coxed pair | Great Britain | Gold |
| 1987 | World Championships | Men's coxless pair | Great Britain | Gold |
| 1987 | World Championships | Coxed pair | Great Britain | Silver |
| 1988 | Olympics | Men's Coxless Pair | Great Britain | Gold |
| 1988 | Olympics | Mens coxed pair | Great Britain | Bronze |
| 1989 | World championships | Men's coxless Pair | Great Britain | Silver |
| 1989 | World Championships | Men's coxed four | Great Britain | Bronze |
| 1990 | World Championships | Mens eight | Canada | Silver |
| 1990 | World Championships | Women's single | Canada | Silver |
| 1991 | World Championships | Mens eight | Canada | Silver |
| 1991 | World Championships | Womens single | Canada | Gold |
| 1992 | Olympics | Men's Eight | Canada | Gold |
| 1992 | Olympics | Women's Single Scull | Canada (Silken Laumann Silken Laumann Silken Suzette Laumann, MSC is a Canadian champion rower.Starting in 1976, Laumann won a number of awards, including a gold medal in quadruple sculls at the U.S. Championships, two gold medals in single sculls at the Pan American Games, a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics in the double sculls with... ) |
Bronze |
| 1993 | World Championships | Men's Eight | USA | Bronze |
| 1994 | World Championships | Men's Eight | USA | Gold |
| 1995 | World Championships | Men's Eight | USA | Bronze |
| 1996 | Olympics | Men's Eight | USA | 5th |
| 1996 | Olympics | Women's Single Sculls | Canada (Silken Laumann Silken Laumann Silken Suzette Laumann, MSC is a Canadian champion rower.Starting in 1976, Laumann won a number of awards, including a gold medal in quadruple sculls at the U.S. Championships, two gold medals in single sculls at the Pan American Games, a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics in the double sculls with... ) |
Silver |
| 1997 | World Championships | Women's Double Sculls | Great Britain | Silver |
| 1998 | World Championships | Women's Double Sculls | Great Britain | Gold |
| 1998 | World Championships | Women's coxless pair | Great Britain | Silver |
| 2000 | Olympics | Women's Quadruple Sculls | Great Britain | Silver |
| 2002 | World Championships | Men's Eight | Canada | Gold |
| 2003 | World Championships | Men's Eight | Canada | Gold |
| 2003 | World Championships | Men's Coxless Four | Canada | Gold |
| 2004 | Olympics | Men's Coxless Four | Canada | Silver |
| 2006 | World Championships | Men's Coxless Pair | Canada | Bronze |
| 2007 | World Championships | Men's Eight | Canada | Gold |
| 2008 | Olympics | Men's Eight | Canada | Gold |
| 2008 | Olympics | Men's Coxless Pair | Canada | Silver |
| 2009 | World Championships | Men's Eight | Canada | Silver |
| 2011 | World Championships | Men's Eight | Canada | Bronze |
| 2011 | World Championships | Men's Coxed Pair | Canada | Bronze |
Honours
- 1998 UK and England Coach of the Year by the National Coaching Foundation
- 2002 International Rowing Federation coach of the year.
- 2004 Spirit of Sport Foundation coach of the year
- 2007 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award