New Pentathlon GB Performance Director Jon Pett looking forward to being part of high-performance sport community at University of Bath
Incoming Pentathlon GB Performance Director Jon Pett says he is looking forward to being part of a “multi-sport, multi-learning environment” at the University of Bath when he begins his new role in January 2022.
Pett has been appointed as successor to the recently-retired Jan Bartu, who established Britain as a global modern pentathlon powerhouse during his 23 years leading the high-performance programme based at the University’s Sports Training Village alongside other Olympic and Paralympic sports like British Swimming, British Triathlon, the EIS World-Class Wheelchair Fencing Programme and the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association.
“This multi-sport, multi-learning environment is something I firmly believe is one of the strengths of our sporting system and I’m looking forward to being in this high-performance community and working with the University of Bath,” said Pett, who is leaving British Cycling where he was known as a strategic thinker across both the Paralympic and Olympic programmes during a successful seven-year stint.
“I feel that it is a moment for new opportunity as well as challenge for the sport. I like the growth, the journey and the success that the sport has had. I know that there are multiple changes ahead and it will be a question of whether we can deal with those challenges quicker than anyone else and come out on top.
“I will need time initially to get to understand the environment and the sport but, for me, it’s all about empowering the people on the front line, the people who know the sport, to be the best they can be.”
Thanks for the welcome. Looking forward to joining the team and supporting everyone towards Paris! Great opportunity which I can’t wait to get started! https://t.co/GX0QBlIyWU
— Jon Pett (@jonnypett) December 14, 2021
There was an early chance for pentathletes to stake their claim for international selection during 2022 last weekend when the Sports Training Village hosted the first National Ranking Event of the new season – and the first senior pentathlon competition staged at the University since February 2020.
World Cup medallist Jess Varley, a University of Bath Natural Sciences graduate, topped the women’s rankings and Sports Performance Ross Charlton, backed by the Team Bath Dual Career Programme, won the men’s competition. Click here to read a full report on the Pentathlon GB website.
