Euan Burton new high performance coach of Judo Scotland

Former double World Championships medallist Euan Burton has been appointed as Scotland’s national high performance judo coach. Burton takes over the position from David Somerville, who led Scotland to unprecedented success at last year's Commonwealth Games and will now take on a new role as a high performance manager with Sport Scotland.

The host nation claimed a total of six gold medals, one of which was earned by virtue of Burton’s victory over Pakistan's Shah Hussain Shah in the 100 kilogram category final.

Burton announced his retirement from competitive judo in the aftermath of the Games and has since been working alongside Somerville, a Commonwealth silver medallist in the 66kg event at Manchester 2002, as assistant high performance coach.

He will now be working closely with Scottish judoka in a bid to produce a new generation of medal winners.

"I am relishing the opportunity," said Burton, who was Scotland’s flagbearer at Glasgow 2014."I truly believe in the power of judo to make a positive impact on Scotland’s people and its communities and feel our performance pathway can help as a driver for that impact. I am, however, fully aware of the size and responsibility of the job at hand and do not underestimate the numerous challenges that we will meet on our journey. I want to thank my predecessor David Somerville for the job he has done to put the programme in such a strong position.

The husband of Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons said: "I believe that with the assistance of the JudoScotland community we can continue to move forward and see Scottish judoka on international podiums and inspiring the nation through their performances and behaviours for years to come."

During his career, Burton won two world bronze medals, three European bronze medals and the Jigoro Kano Cup at the renowned Tokyo Grand Slam. In recognition of his achievements, he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) as part of the Queen's 2015 New Year's Honours list.

Douglas Bryce, chief executive at JudoScotland, added: "We welcome Euan into his new role at an immensely exciting time for judo in Scotland."With the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games just round the corner, the 2020 Tokyo Games being staged in the birthplace of judo and, with judo becoming a core sport within the Commonwealth Games from 2022, Euan will be able to positively impact on these and other world-class events."

Quotes taken from www.Insidethegames.biz