Penarth-based coach Damian Hammond, a former BBC Welsh Coach of the Year, has guided two more athletes to senior international status and celebrated a standout gold medal at the GB Rowing Championships.
His athlete, Miguel Ferriera de Lima, secured gold in the Adaptive Single Sculls on July 19 at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham, winning the title by more than 13 seconds, and beating rival Paralympic hopefuls by over 20 seconds.
Mr Hammond, a former GB senior and national coach for Wales, was full of praise for his athlete’s performances.
He said: “This is truly amazing, as Miguel keeps showing his Paralympic International class.”
Llandaff Rowing Club continues to make waves with the success of its international athletes.
Club captain Laura Starrs and chairman Trevor Wing expressed their pride in the team’s progress and the club’s growing reputation.
As Mr Hammond continues to develop talent, his latest charge, Abdi Hassan, has been selected to represent Somalia at the Under 23 World Championships in Duisberg, Germany this month, and at the Senior World Champions in August in Amsterdam.
Mr Hammond will coach Mr Hassan as he targets qualification for the Los Angeles 2026 and Brisbane 2030 Olympic Games.
He said: “We are targeting around top 20 Under 23 ranking in the world, as Abdi has only been sculling just over a year and is still studying at Cardiff University, where he started rowing.”
Ellie Postlethwaite, another standout from Llandaff, will race the single scull for Wales at the Home International Regatta in London this month.
She earned her spot after reaching the quarter-finals at the Henley Women’s Regatta.
Mr Hammond said: “Ellie gave a truly exceptional performance for someone who has only been sculling for two years. It normally takes more than four years of High Performance training to attain these types of performances.”
Chloe Hughes, also from Llandaff, was selected to compete for Wales in the PR2 Paralympic class and won both the Paralympic distance and sprint events on her debut for the country.
Mr Wing, who is also her coach, said: “It’s amazing for our small club to keep winning these big titles. Our programs keep hitting the mark. Well done Chloe.”
Llandaff alumni Osian James and Kai Schlottmann were crowned Under 23 world champions on July 26 in Duisberg as part of the Great Britain Under 23 eight.
Both rowers began their careers at Llandaff and were coached by Kai’s father, Ole Schlottmann, who serves as the club’s head junior coach.
Mr Hammond’s coaching accolades stretch back to 2002, when he was named Welsh Coach of the Year after guiding athletes to 12 Commonwealth medals – including Wales’ first Commonwealth gold and silver in rowing – and a historic Lucerne World Cup Regatta gold for GB.
He remains the youngest recipient of the award, which is highlighted annually on BBC Wales during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year broadcast.
