Performance Director, Stephen Delaney To Step Down From Role

With the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle, Triathlon Ireland’s Performance Director Stephen Delaney has informed the organisation of his intention to step down from his role.

Mr Delaney has led Triathlon Ireland’s High Performance team since 2018. In that time, he has guided the team’s strategy and athletic performance over the Tokyo Olympic cycle and four World Championship events.

A Privilege

Mr Delaney will depart Triathlon Ireland at the end of October but has said he intends to remain close to the sport:

“It has been a privilege to work with the athletes and staff in Triathlon Ireland for over a decade, starting in a part time coaching role in 2010. I would like to thank them all for their contribution to the growth of triathlon, their support for myself and the team and to congratulate them on the successes they have had.” 

Stephen Delaney continued, “I am looking forward to continuing to support the team and being available to athletes in the future and perhaps to restarting a very intermittent triathlon career which started with relay teams in the late 80s and paused with the 1st edition of the Hardman Triathlon.”

Passionate, Skilled and Athlete Focussed

Triathlon Ireland CEO, Darren Coombes has paid tribute to Mr Delaney for his commitment and drive which he said was invaluable during what was a uniquely difficult run up to the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

“It has been a joy to work with Stephen. He is a passionate, skilled and athlete focussed Performance Director who has served our athletes and performance team superbly well during his tenure, in particular over the Tokyo cycle which will be remembered as one of the most challenging and stressful Olympic cycles for our Performance Team.”

“Stephen’s commitment to the programme was stretched to the limit over the past 18 months, and his drive to ensure our athletes had the best possible chance of qualifying and performing at the Games in the midst of a global pandemic will never be forgotten.”

Mr Coombes added: “I am delighted that Stephen will remain involved in triathlon and that his knowledge and deep understanding of the sport will not be lost to our community.”

Crucial Support for Tokyo 2020

Tokyo Olympics Athlete Russell White also paid tribute to Stephen Delaney, highlighting his deep commitment to athlete welfare and his tactical insight:

“It has been a pleasure to work and be supported by Stephen throughout my triathlon career as we both started working with Triathlon Ireland around 2010. Stephen was someone I always had great faith, trust in and it was a privilege to have him in my corner.”

“From our first main trip and race together in 2012 at World University Championships in Taiwan, guiding me through extremely difficult conditions during my first elite Olympic distance triathlon right up to being performance director and mastermind behind qualification to help me gain selection for Olympic Games in Tokyo.”

Russell White continued: “I never made life easy for Stephen with crashes and bad performances but Stephen’s ability to read races, understanding of the qualification process and ability to think of strategies and plans in a way others didn’t, was crucially the main reason that Ireland qualified two athletes to Tokyo.”

“His presence within Triathlon Ireland will be sadly missed but I wish him all the best for future endeavours and know he will have further success at whatever he decides to focus on next,” Russell White said.

Triathlon Ireland will initiate an extensive recruitment process over the coming weeks to identify a Performance Director to lead the programme.