Shaun Pickering (© Getty Images)
World Athletics is deeply saddened to learn that Shaun Pickering – Olympian, coach, and Chairman of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund – died on Thursday (11) at the age of 61.
Pickering’s life was dedicated to athletics. Son of commentator Ron Pickering and Olympic medallist and European long jump champion Jean Pickering, Shaun was a talented all-round thrower, but particularly excelled in the shot put.
He represented Great Britain at various major championships, including the 1996 Olympic Games, and in 1997 he set his lifetime best of 20.45m, which remains the Welsh record. In 1998 he earned Commonwealth bronze in the shot put.
After retiring from competitive athletics, Pickering moved into coaching. In 2010 he became heavy throws coach for UK Athletics.
But Pickering’s biggest legacy will be the work he did through the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, which was set up in 1991 following the death of his father, a much-loved and popular figure within the sport.
Over the past 32 years, the charity has given more than £2million (about US$2.5million or €2.3million) to promising young athletes, mostly in the shape of annual grants. Many of Britain’s most successful athletes – including the likes of Olympic gold medallists Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Denise Lewis and Greg Rutherford – have been helped by the charity at some stage.
“Everyone at British Athletics is so saddened to hear this news today,” said the national federation. “Shaun loved the sport passionately and cared deeply for athletes and his many friends across the sport. His work to continue the success of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund supported so many athletes.”
Decathlon legend Daley Thompson added: “One of my best friends and much more importantly one of the nicest and kindest people I’ve ever met died today.”
World Athletics
