Jamie Johnson Leaves Role as Olympic Programme Coach
March 31, 2026
British Judo can today confirm that long-serving Olympic Programme Coach Jamie Johnson has decided to leave his role, bringing to a close an outstanding 21-year association with the organisation.
Johnson has been a central figure within the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP), dedicating more than two decades to the development of athletes and the progression of the National Training Centre.
Having first established himself as a successful competitor, Johnson enjoyed a distinguished career on the tatami, including five British Championship titles and strong performances on the European stage.
Following his transition into coaching, he became an integral part of the national setup, initially as part of England Judo before ultimately taking on a key role within the Olympic Programme. Over the years, Johnson worked closely with some of Britain’s top judoka including the likes Lucy Renshall and Chelsie Giles, helping guide them to World No.1 rankings and Olympic medal accolades.
Across 21 years of service, Johnson has been widely recognised for his commitment to the sport and his influence on generations of athletes.
As Johnson steps away, he does so with the appreciation of colleagues, athletes, and the wider judo community, having devoted over two decades to the growth and success of the sport in Great Britain.
Performance Director Kate Howey MBE applauded Johnson for his achievements over the years:
“Jamie has been an integral part of British Judo for over two decades, and his contribution to the Olympic Programme cannot be overstated. His dedication to athlete development and his deep understanding of high-performance judo have helped shape the environment we have today.”
Chief Executive Andrew Scoular echoed Howey’s sentiments:
“On behalf of everyone at British Judo, I would like to thank Jamie for his outstanding service over the past 21 years. His commitment, professionalism, and passion for the sport have made a lasting impact across the organisation. Jamie leaves with our full support and appreciation, and we wish him all the very best for the future.”
Jamie Johnson Statement:
“After more than 24 years with British Judo, the time has come for me to step away from the organisation that has been such a significant part of my life.
Coaching has been my life, and it has been an honour to serve the sport over more than two decades at every level of the performance pathway. During that time, I have had the privilege of working with exceptional athletes, coaches and support staff, including Nigel Donohue, former Performance Director, whose support has been instrumental in helping British Judo to develop athletes who have gone on to achieve success at the highest level of international competition.
Together we have achieved Olympic success, World Championship medals, European Championship titles and world number one rankings. We have won more than 60 Grand Slam and Grand Prix medals, alongside numerous Junior European and Junior World championship medals. Those results reflect not just moments of success, but sustained performance and long-term athlete development across generations.
I am particularly proud that we have consistently bridged Junior, Senior, and Elite performance — building pathways that have allowed athletes to progress, grow, and succeed on the world stage. Success in Judo is never about one individual; it is about the environment, trust, standards, and shared belief.
Beyond competition results, I was deeply honoured to become the only British coach ever elected to the European Judo Union Coaching Commission. That role represented recognition from the wider international Judo community and reinforced my commitment to contributing to the sport beyond our own borders.
None of this would have been possible without the athletes who trusted me, challenged me and committed fully to their journeys. I am equally grateful to the coaches, performance staff, clubs, parents, volunteers and colleagues who I worked alongside — often behind the scenes — whose professionalism and dedication made high performance possible.
Judo has given me: purpose, challenge, pride and lifelong friendships. I leave this chapter proud of what has been achieved.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part my journey, as it is now time for me to spend more time at home with my partner and family.”
