Gary_Lough
Gary Lough
British middle-distance runner
Gary Lough (born 6 July 1970) is a British male former middle-distance runner. He represented his country at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics, finishing the 1500 metres final in ninth place.[1] He won 1500 m bronze medals internationally at the 1993 Summer Universiade and the 1994 European Cup.[2][3] He also participated at the 1994 IAAF World Cup and the 1996 European Cup.[4][5]
At the top national level he reached the podium three times. He was third in the 1500 m at the 1993 UK Athletics Championships,[6] third over 800 m at the 1995 AAA Championships, and third in the 1500 m at the 1994 AAA Championships.[7] He was a four-time Northern Irish national champion in the 800 metres, taking straight victories from 1990 to 1993.[8] He was twice champion at the BUCS British Universities Athletics Championships, winning the 1500m title in both 1991 and 1995.[9]
Born in Larne, Moyle Hospital in County Antrim,[10] Lough attended Loughborough University and it was there that he met fellow student-athlete Paula Radcliffe and the two became friends. Five years after the pair began dating and later married, having two children: a daughter, Isla (2007), and a son, Raphael (2010).[11] Lough suffered a knee injury which curtailed his competitive career and instead focused on training and managing his wife's career.[12] Radcliffe set the world record in the marathon while working with her husband.[13] He drew public criticism for his coaching style after her fourth-place performance at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. Radcliffe was distraught at missing a medal and Lough's trackside remonstration of her tactics was shown on television. Lough later apologised to his wife and the public for his reaction.[14][15]
Lough began working with multiple Olympic champion Mo Farah in February 2018, with Farah remarking that he appreciated Lough's strong will and attention to detail as a coach.[16]
