Ian Johns’ Selected for UK Sport Elite Coach Programme

British Judo is delighted to announce that our Paralympic Head Coach, Ian Johns, has been selected to join the prestigious UK Sport Elite Coach Programme for the 2025–2027 cohort.

The programme, a cornerstone of UK Sport’s high-performance strategy, is designed to nurture the country’s most promising coaching talent across Olympic and Paralympic sport.

The Elite Coach Programme aims to equip coaches with advanced strategic, technical and leadership skills to support medal success and enhance athlete experiences at the highest levels of competition.

Running over two years, it combines immersive residentials, tailored mentoring and collaboration with leading experts across sport, business, and performance environments.

Ian joins an exceptional group of coaches from across the sporting landscape, representing disciplines from aquatics and athletics to boccia and para-table tennis. His inclusion in this cohort reflects his outstanding contribution to British Judo and the broader Paralympic coaching community.

On his selection, Ian said:

“I’m really proud to have been selected for the Elite coaching course, I never dreamed of being in the same room as some of the best coaches in the country/world!! The course is a two year project and I’m really excited to learn from the wealth of knowledge that I have access to. Our first residential was incredible – hostage negotiations, coaching conversations and some reflective practice – really pushing myself to be the best I can be. Yes this course is for me – but I’m proud to be representing Judo and I hope I do everyone proud.”

This opportunity builds on Ian’s proven track record with British Judo’s Paralympic squad, where his leadership and expertise have helped shape medal-winning performances on the world stage. His selection continues a proud tradition of British Judo coaches contributing to excellence across the UK’s high-performance sporting system.

British Judo extends heartfelt congratulations to Ian and looks forward to following his journey through the Elite Coach Programme as he continues to drive forward both his own development and that of the athletes he leads.